UK - The GMB trade union has called on its members to reject BA's proposed restructuring of its pension fund.

The national carrier is prepared to inject £800m before May and around £280m for the next ten years to help close a £2.1bn (€3.2bn) deficit.

But the union is recommending its members scupper the deal which it sees as unfair because their contributions will rise with no improvement in benefits.

A GMB spokeswoman predicted that any industrial action would bring chaos to major UK airports as its members work in all areas on the ground, including baggage handling.

The GMB claims than the proposed changes would be set in stone. "There is no commitment for a review, should the situation approve," it declares in a letter to members.

BA declared ten days ago that it had the backing of all four unions in the BA Forum on its proposed pension review but this was quickly denied. Since then, the pilots' union has moved to recommend the deal but the GMB claims the pilots are getting a better deal at the expense of its members.

Another of the four, the Transport & General Workers' Union, has meanwhile voted to strike over what it feels has been a deterioration in industrial relations and the management of cabin crews.