BRITISH AIRWAYS is facing the threat of a strike ballot after beginning a hunt for the ringleaders of last week’s unofficial stoppages.

The Transport and General Workers Union wrote to the airline saying that it would support “legal industrial action to protect victimised members” in the ongoing row over BA’s catering supplier.

BA is investigating claims by staff that some of them were bullied into taking part in last week’s wildcat action in support of 670 sacked workers at the Gate Gourmet catering company. It has set up a confidential phone hotline for staff to report their concerns.

Sir Rod Eddington, BA’s chief executive, has condemned the unofficial action by 1,000 baggage handlers and drivers as “outrageous” and “a body blow that defies belief”.

In a letter to Sir Rod, Tony Woodley, the union’s general secretary, said: “Just at a time when we are working hard to find a settlement, your announcement yesterday has caused great resentment on the part of those that we represent.

“They, like me, thought that your prime concern was to find a settlement, looking forward and not looking back. That is why I am genuinely disappointed over what you have done.”

Referring to the many links between sacked Gate Gourmet workers — many of whom were employed by BA’s when it ran its own catering operation — and BA staff across Heathrow, Mr Woodley added: “Would it not be a bitter irony if, in the same family, in the same household, that a husband was now victimised for exercising his conscience by standing up for his wife — the former a British Airways employee, and the latter employed by Gate Gourmet? “Were that to happen, this union would support legal industrial action to protect victimised members.”

Mr Woodley’s letter was sent as BA finally got away the last of around 100,000 passengers stranded after the airline cancelled hundreds of flights at the end of last week.

BA said that its investigation into allegations that some of the strikers were bullied into taking action was “a fact-finding mission”.

It added: “A number of our staff have intimated to their managers that they did not wish to take part in the unlawful industrial action last week but did so because they were intimidated, bullied or harassed.

“We must investigate the allegations thoroughly and — if they are proven — take appropriate action to protect our employees. This is not victimisation. Any responsible employer faced with such allegations needs to take action and the T&G would be the first to protest if this were not the case.”

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