British Airways strike to go ahead

Talks aimed at preventing a strike by British Airways (BA) cabin crew have collapsed, the Unite trade union said Friday, less than 12 hours before the action was due to start.

?It?s with great disappointment that I have to tell you all that negotiations have broken down,? Unite?s joint leader Tony Woodley told reporters. ?The strike goes ahead at midnight tonight (Friday).?

Woodley added: ?This company does not want to negotiate, this company wants ultimately to go to war with my members.?

Some 12,000 cabin crew are set to go on strike for three days from Saturday, followed by a second walkout from March 27 for four days.

BA has vowed to keep around 60 percent of passengers flying despite the action.

?It?s deeply regrettable that a proposal that we have tabled to Unite that I believe is fair... has not been accepted,? the airline?s chief executive Willie Walsh said outside the London venue of the talks.

?BA will be flying tomorrow and will continue to fly throughout these periods of industrial action,? he added.

The bitter dispute has been sparked by proposed changes to crew numbers and working practices.

Sourced = The Channel New Asia