BA and Unite meet for talks

FRANTIC efforts to head off a "deeply damaging" strike by British Airways cabin crew will be made today, with time running out to reach a deal.

Talks between leaders of Unite and BA managers are expected to be held hours after the union announced another massive vote in favour of industrial action in a bitter row over jobs and working conditions.

Unite will now hold a series of internal meetings before deciding whether to set strike dates, which would hit flights in the busy run-up to the Easter break.

The union will have to give seven days' notice of any strikes to the airline, which has been training other staff, including pilots, to take the place of cabin crew if action is held.