Unions are being asked to accept an improved pay offer worth an extra £1,000 in an attempt to avert strikes at airports including Gatwick over the August bank holiday.

British Airways has offered staff an extra £1,000 if they are absent from work for no more than 16 days over two years.

BA employees currently have an average of 17 days off sick a year, compared with a national average among all workers of seven days.

It said it was not moving on its offer of an eight per cent pay rise over three years but said the new deal would meet a claim from trade unions.

The offer was tabled during a meeting at Heathrow yesterday between BA and leaders of three trade unions.

BA asked the unions to hold fresh ballots of staff in view of the new offer.

Mike Street, director of customer service and operations, said: "The unions asked us to consider an incentive scheme to help tackle our absence issue and we believe this is an innovative way to reward staff with reasonable attendance records.

"We remain hopeful of finding a resolution."

The GMB union has warned it will stage a 24-hour strike over the bank holiday weekend unless the long-running dispute over pay is resolved.

The Transport and General Workers' Union will announce the results of a ballot among baggage handlers later this week which is expected to show support for strikes.

A vote by GMB members last week found 53 per cent were in favour of industrial action and union leaders set the strike dates on Monday.

If the 24-hour walkout goes ahead it will cause huge disruption at airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, during one of the busiest weekends of the year. About 100,000 people would normally travel on BA flights every day over the bank holiday weekend.

Unions have rejected a pay offer worth 8.5 per cent over three years or 10.5 per cent if it does not count towards pensions.

Wednesday August 18, 2004