BA crew to oppose 'unfair' contracts

BRITISH Airways cabin crew will hold a mass meeting today to discuss opposition to new employment contracts they complain are "unfair and unworkable".

Thousands of members of Unite are set to be balloted for industrial action over the changes which have also sparked the threat of legal action by the union.

BA is seeking to cut thousands of jobs, freeze pay and introduce different employment contracts under moves to cut costs in the face of a recession-fuelled downturn in the aviation industry.

Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, said: "BA faces significant difficulties across the business, so why is it also seeking a damaging confrontation with 14,000 cabin crew?"