Cabin crew at British Airways have voted in favour of strike action over what they argue is low pay. Some 79 per cent of the crew that took part in the ballot voted for strike action, with over 2,500 members of the Unite members who crew routes to dozens of destinations now considering action. This could come as soon as December 21st.

Unite has said “significant progress” has been made in moving towards Unite becoming the recognised union for British Airway’s mixed fleet cabin crew. The development brings a positive closure to a chapter in relationships between the airline and the union which saw cabin crew challenge operational changes that they feared would destroy the airline’s reputation for world class customer care.

British Airways and the Unite union have reached an agreement to settle their two-year industrial dispute. As part of the deal BA has agreed to restore travel concessions to staff who went on strike and to award some lower-paid employees top-up payments. The agreement will now be put to a ballot of about 10,000 union members.

Union leaders have called for British Airways cabin crew to hold off from strikes over the Easter and Royal Wedding holidays, raising hopes of a final settlement in the long-running dispute. The two sides said that a 28-day extension had been agreed to allow for further talks, and that lasting peace was essential for the good of both parties.

British Airways could endure strike action over Easter and the Royal Wedding after cabin crew agreed to take part in a new ballot. Unite is holding its fourth ballot in two years – with the result due to be declared on March 28. A yes vote could lead to industrial action over the peak holiday period in April.

British Airways has branded Unite “dysfunctional” as the trade union confirmed it would ballot members over further industrial action at the airline. In a move designed to disrupt publicity around the merger of BA and Spanish flag-carrier Iberia, Unite said a ballot would begin in seven days.