BA boss in last minute strike talks (From Basingstoke Gazette)

BA boss in last minute strike talks

2:20pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in National News © Press Association 2011

Frantic last-ditch efforts are being made to head off this weekend's strike by British Airways cabin crew.

The airline's chief executive Willie Walsh held face-to-face talks with Tony Woodley, joint leader of the Unite union, with time running out for breaking the deadlocked row over cost-cutting

The two men met at the London headquarters of the TUC, whose general secretary Brendan Barber has been trying to broker a deal for the last few weeks.

Mr Woodley left the building shortly after 1.30pm on Thursday to attend a meeting of cabin crew representatives at Unite's head office nearby.

The union leader said as he left the building: "We are meeting and we are talking."

The surprise last-minute talks offered a glimmer of hope that the three-day strike could still be averted.