British Airways cabin crew set to stage three-day strike later this month

British Airways cabin crew will stage a fresh 72-hour walk-out, it has been announced.

Staff will strike from January 19 in a dispute over pay, the Unite union said on Thursday.

The action comes as part of a long running dispute over the wages of more than 2,500 “mixed fleet” members of the union.

Unite said a recent survey revealed almost half of the new cabin crew had taken on a second job to make ends meet, with some saying they had to sleep in their cars between shifts because they could not afford the petrol to drive home.

Two thirds admitted to going to work unfit to fly because they could not afford to be off sick.

Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: "British Airways should be under no illusion about our members' determination to secure a settlement that addresses their concerns over poverty pay.

"Seeking to squeeze ever more from cabin crew and making passengers pay for services which were once complimentary is a sad state of affairs for an airline which once described itself as the 'world's favourite'.

"We would urge British Airways to avoid the inconvenience and disruption of industrial action by meaningfully addressing levels of poverty pay which are causing financial worry and distress to 'mixed fleet' cabin crew."

Unite said over 800 mixed fleet cabin crew workers have joined the union since the start of the dispute, taking membership to over 2,900.

BA said this week's 48-hour strike had failed in its objective of disrupting customers, maintaining that more than 70% of mixed fleet cabin crew reported for work as normal.

A statement said: "We operated nearly 1,600 flights over the two days, as planned, and transported all 210,000 customers to their destinations.

"So it is bizarre, as well as regrettable, that mixed fleet Unite branch has announced further strike dates.

"We will again aim to ensure that all our customers travel to their destinations in this period and we will publish more details on Monday once we have finalised our contingency plans.

"Unite's attempt to create uncertainty for customers and further division among its own members is completely without justification."

BA said its pay offer for mixed fleet crew was consistent with deals agreed with Unite for other British Airways workers, reflected pay awards by other companies and will ensure that rewards for mixed fleet remain in line with those for cabin crew at its competitors.