Reports now show that thousands of British Airways cabin crew members will be asked about if they should go on strike over new contracts. This announcement came from one of the largest unions to represent British Airways’ cabin crew, Unite Union.

Recently the unions and management from British Airways have been taking part in, what they call, open and frank talks. These talks come just following the announcement from British Airways that it was going ahead with cost cutting measures earlier this month. This announcement pointed out that British Airways wants to cut 1,700 jobs and start a two year freeze on pay for its current staff members.

The joint general secretary of Unite, Derek Simpson, said that Unite is going to ballot their British Airways cabin crew on industrial action to see where the members stand. The British Airways management team’s determination to impose unacceptable changes to the cabin crew has left the union with no other choice.

Derek Simpson went on to say that they will strongly support their members if they do vote to go on with industrial action; however, they do remain ready to negotiate further with British Airways. He said that negotiation, not imposition, is the only way to conduct industrial relations.

British Airways has been fighting tooth and nail with the unions lately due to the current economic downturn. The airline has stated that it is in a fight for survival and it needs to cut costs anyway it knows how. However, many of the methods that are being chosen by British Airways has upset the unions and many of its members.