BA staff in strike vote

British Airways cabin crew will get a chance to decide whether to strike in a row over new contracts, the Unite union said today.Talks between BA and the union, which has 14,000 members at the carrier, ran through the summer, but broke down last week.The airline has already flagged plans to axe 1,700 jobs, freeze pay for staff and lower wages for new joiners in a bid to save £140m a year.Travellers face disruption at Christmas if BA staff vote in favour of a walk out. It's thought the ballot will take place next week."BA management's determination to impose unacceptable contractual changes on cabin crew leaves us no alternative," said Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite."We will strongly support our members if they vote for industrial action, while of course remaining ready to negotiate with the company. Negotiation, not imposition, is the only proper way to conduct industrial relations." Earlier, the Financial Times reported that the European Commission has told British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia they may have to give up lucrative take-off and landing slots if they are to press ahead with a transatlantic tie-up.The European Commission says that the agreement the three airlines signed last year is "likely to result in appreciable competitive harm" on seven Europe/US routes, according to documents seen by the FT.Brussels says it "envisages issuing a decision finding that the series of agreements signed have been in breach" of competition laws and would order the "infringements" ended. "Remedies may include...the transfer of airport slots" to other carriers, the EC added. Bay Capital