This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A fresh wave of strikes will hit Britain in the final week before Christmas, with 1,500 check-in staff and baggage handlers at 18 airports preparing to walk out and rail operator Southern warning of severe disruption when conductors do the same.

British Airways cabin crew based at Heathrow airport announced on Friday that they are to strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in a dispute over pay and conditions.

The action, backed by the Unite union, could involve up to 4,500 staff on “mixed fleet” contracts who joined the airline since 2010.

Virgin Atlantic pilots voted to take industrial action short of a strike in a row over union recognition, and will work “strictly to contract” from 23 December. That news came after the announcement earlier this week that Post Office workers would stage five days of strikes in the run-up to Christmas.

Southern rail

Southern saw the complete cancellation of its train services on Friday, for the third day in a week. About 300,000 passengers were affected when Southern cancelled all its 2,242 weekday services.

Drivers' strike halts all Southern rail services for third day Read more

An overtime ban in place by drivers in the Aslef union will compound the effects of a two-day strike on Southern services by RMT conductors starting on Monday.

Prospects of an imminent resolution of the rail dispute appeared remote after talks between Southern’s parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway, and Aslef collapsed on Thursday.

Airport staff

On Friday 23 December and Christmas Eve, members of Unite employed by Swissport will walk out at Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Leeds/Bradford, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton and Stansted airports.

Unite national officer Oliver Richardson called on the company to “engage in constructive talks”. Airport representatives have said they are putting contingency plans in place.

British Airways

Members of the same union voted to strike over what have been described as “poverty pay” levels. They say staff members employed in the last six years are on lower pay and conditions than existing crew. BA has accused the union of “creating uncertainty for our customers”.

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic pilots to take industrial action over union recognition Read more

Pilots at the airline who are members of the Professional Pilots’ Union (PPU) will work to rule after they voted to take industrial action short of a strike. The action will see a removal of “pilot goodwill”, with pilots who are members of the PPU working strictly to their contracts.

Virgin Atlantic said it values its pilots “enormously” and expected its “flying programme to remain unaffected”.

Post Office

A five-day strike, including on Christmas Eve, threatens to cause disruption for those wanting to send gifts and cards. The Communications Workers Union blamed a long-running dispute over jobs, pensions and branch closures.

The union blamed the “intransigence” of the Post Office, while the company said it was “extremely disappointed” and had believed talks were due to resume this week.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Royal Mail will be operating as normal next week when the CWU union says its members in the Post Office will take industrial action. We expect there to be little or no impact on the services we provide to our customers.

“There is no change in the Royal Mail guidance on last posting dates.”