Union to mount legal challenge to BA

London - The union representing British Airways cabin crew said on Monday it would take legal action against the airline over the removal of travel concessions from striking workers.

The Unite union has been embroiled in a long running dispute with the airline, which has resulted in a series of strikes costing BA £150m.

A key sticking point in resolving the dispute, which originally centred around cuts to pay and staffing levels, has been BA's decision to remove travel perks from cabin crew who took part in the strikes.

"Unite believes that management's action breaches European human rights legislation," the union said in a statement. "It also believes that this sanction ... was taken without proper disciplinary procedures being followed."

Last week Unite said cabin crew had voted to reject a revised pay offer from BA, which included two years of guaranteed rises in basic pay in addition to annual incremental increases.

Unite, which represents 90% of BA's 12 000 cabin crew, said it would hold further talks with the company through conciliation service ACAS next week in a bid to resolve the dispute.

  - Reuters