If strike action by BA cabin crews goes ahead, thousands of passengers will feel the effects over Easter.

More than 13,000 British Airways (BA) cabin crew are again being balloted for strike action, which if it goes ahead, could affect flights over the Easter 2010 period. Previous proposed strike action in December 2009 was ruled as ‘unlawful’ by the High Court.

The reason for the strike, according to union Unite, is “the failure to yet secure an agreement between the two sides on the crucial issues of imposed changes to the workload and working conditions”.

BA’s Chief Executive Willie Walsh has written an email to all staff asking for their support and offering non-cabin crew the chance to apply for a voluntary position, should a strike go ahead. In the email, he said: “I know many of you will once again be appalled at the distress a strike would cause our customers and the damage it will do to our company – especially when so many of you have already made sacrifices.

“That is why I am writing to you today. I am asking for volunteers to back BA by training to work alongside cabin crew who choose not to support a strike, so we are ready to keep our customers flying as much as we possibly can if this strike goes ahead.”

Tony Woodley, Unite Joint General Secretary, condemned the action, and said: “This is a provocative attempt by BA to disrupt negotiations.  It is inconceivable that BA should even be thinking of running its airline – the national carrier – with scab labour who have had only minimum training.  This shows contempt for professionalism of cabin crew.

“BA management must stop the posturing and get back to the negotiating table because only through agreement with its own employees can BA keep on flying.”

The ballot for industrial action will open on Monday 25 January and close Monday 22 February.