Fresh threat as BA talks break down

Significant shorts

Travellers face the threat of further industrial action at British Airways after it became clear yesterday that talks had reached an impasse. Officials of the Transport & General Workers Union were understood to be resisting calls for more strikes from leaders of 9,000 cabin crew and hoped for fresh negotiations.

Union leaders tabled proposals for saving pounds 42m, but it was not clear whether management were prepared to accept the plan. Both sides say officially that talks are continuing, but employees' representatives say that the negotiations have reached a stalemate.

If there is no settlement union officials may call a fresh ballot among the cabin crew who came out on a three-day strike earlier this summer.