It has taken the protestations of 14 bishops, the complaints of Cabinet ministers and even an intervention from the Prime Minister, but today, after 19 weeks, Nadia Eweida is going back to work.

Miss Eweida, 55, the BA check-in worker who refused to cast off her cross, has been on unpaid leave since September last year.

Today, two weeks after the airline’s U-turn on its uniform policy, allowing employees to wear visible symbols of their Christianity, the woman behind the furore will return to her duties - wearing her cross. But Miss Eweida is refusing to go back quietly.

Not only is she demanding British Airways pay out thousands of pounds in back pay, she also wants the airline to make a £100,000 donation to a Christian charity and include a Christian element in its in-flight entertainment.

Unless her grievances are “resolved satisfactorily” within the next month, an employment tribunal in Reading will set a date to hear her claim that the airline “violated her dignity” and discriminated against her on the basis of her Christianity.

“I’m pleased but appprehen-sive,” she said. “It’s been very strange being off work for so long and it’s hard going back when you’ve been off like this.

“I have had high blood pressure and lots of nosebleeds, probably through the stress. But I’ve spoken to colleagues — 257 of them signed a petition to support me — so I think it’ll be fine.”

Miss Eweida, who has previously admitted being a kind of “trade unionist for God”, has a number of grievances with the airline over its treatment of Christianity.

The diversity training does not include teaching employees about Christianity, she says. Muslims get time off to pray, Christians do not.

Another focus of her campaigning zeal is the inclusion, before to September 11, of a Muslim element in the airline’s in-flight entertainment.

“Prior to 9/11, BA had Muslim entertainment on board, listening to the holy Koran,” she said. “I’ve been asking for a Christian counterpart. I’m going to ask them to provide a Christian entertainment channel on the aircraft.”

Miss Eweida has had to be equipped with a new BA uniform, after putting on weight during her time off. She wears the BA scarf as a cravat, as employees are entitled to do, which means her cross, the size of a 5p piece is on view.

On top of back pay and compensation for the “violation of her dignity”, she is seeking a £100,000 donation to the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship.

Announcing the change in uniform policy two weeks ago, the BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: “Unintentionally, we have found ourselves at the centre of one of the hottest social issues in current public debate.

“Our uniform is one of the most powerful symbols of our company and heritage. This modification will enable staff to wear symbols of faith openly, without detracting from the uniform.”

Miss Eweida said: “Muslims are not afraid to stand up and fight for their religion. Christians haven’t had enough faith to stand up and say they have faith in a living god.” The airline refused to comment.

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