Staff belonging to the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA), a section of Unite, voted in favour of industrial action yesterday (August 17).

According to Unite, the new performance management scheme is a “needless replacement” for the existing system and staff have expressed concerns that its introduction masks a “hidden agenda of future job losses”.

The union said it would not be announcing the dates of the walkout until discussions had taken place with BASSA representatives.

Members of the Euro Fleet and Worldwide Fleet cabin crew members based at Heathrow airport were balloted and voted in favour of industrial action by 91%.

Unite regional officer Matt Smith said: “Our members have voted overwhelmingly against the introduction of this flawed Dashboard scheme.

“The BA management should note the enormous strength of feeling against this policy with what, we suspect, is a hidden agenda of future job losses. A perfectly adequate performance management policy already exists.

“There is a window of opportunity here for BA to allay our members’ fears and change direction. A number of major companies are moving away from performance management appraisal schemes such as this.

“Cabin crew work together achieving the high level of service and professionalism that our members give to BA’s millions of passengers 365 days a year.

“It is completely unfair to expect them to be placed in a league table, competing against each other, over onboard issues that are clearly out of their control.”