British Airways Strike Still Looms After Session

LONDON (AP) — British Airways cabin crews agreed Thursday to fly with reduced staffing — but the decision does not rule out a possible strike during the holiday season.

Unite, the largest union in Britain, agreed that cabin crews would unwillingly fly under the new rules until the issue goes to court in early February.

But Unite spokeswoman Pauline Doyle said after the meeting that the union still plans to poll its members on whether to go ahead with a possible strike.

"That's a completely separate issue," she said. "We will absolutely ballot our members. That is imminent."

The union wants the court to put in place a permanent injunction that would keep BA from imposing its cost-cutting measures, which are now set to begin in mid-November.

The airline released a statement urging Unite to drop plans for a possible strike.

"We urge Unite to withdraw its plans for an industrial action ballot and resume discussions with us," the company said.