BA has warned strikes would seriously damage the company

More than 8,000 Transport and General Workers Union members at UK airports are due to vote on strike action between 5 and 18 August.

The GMB union also decided to ballot its members after talks failed to resolve the long-running pay dispute.

BA has warned 12,000 employees strikes would seriously damage the company.

Following talks involving the conciliation service Acas on Wednesday, director of operations Mike Street said arbitration would "allow our customers to book in confidence with the knowledge their summer travel plans will not be disrupted".

"We hope that the unions will support our initiative as a genuine opportunity to resolve our differences without the need for disruption for our customers, our employees and our company."

Working flat-out

In a personal letter to staff last week, Mr Street said industrial action would cause "significant and serious damage" to BA's finances and reputation for customer service.

The TGWU said earlier talks had been "stymied" by BA insisting on a pay offer worth 8.5% over three years, or 10.5% if the money did not count towards pensions.

National officer Brendan Gold said the "inflation-only" rise would mean "people who are delivering for BA on the ground are working flat-out but standing still on pay".

The TGWU said basic earnings for baggage handlers were about �14,000 a year, while check-in and administration staff, many of whom were women, earned between �2,000 and �3,000 less.

Serious disruption

And the union was asking for a "modest" rise in line with inflation plus lump sum payments, which would cost BA �50m over three years.

The GMB described the workers as "the people who keep BA flying", and said there was money "sloshing around at BA for the board, managers and pilots".

There was serious disruption at Heathrow Airport last summer when check-in workers staged an unofficial walkout.

That dispute concerned a row over working conditions, including the use of swipe cards to clock in and out of work.