<p><br /> The union representing British Airways cabin crew is preparing to appeal against an injunction which halted strike action planned by thousands of its members in a bitter row over jobs, pay and staffing levels.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mr Justice McCombe has granted an order against Unite, giving a reprieve for passengers who had faced weeks of travel chaos but drawing furious criticism from its leaders who described the decision as an "absolute disgrace".<br /> </p><p><br /> A spokesman for the airline said flights will still be affected for the rest of the week despite the injunction, with half of short-haul and 40 per cent of long-haul services from Heathrow set to be hit on Tuesday because it is too late to reinstate a full service.<br /> </p><p><br /> Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, who held separate talks with both sides, said the judgment was good news for passengers.<br /> </p><p><br /> Unite members had been due to stage the first of four five-day walkouts from midnight on Monday night, but the union was left urgently contacting its members to tell them to work normally.<br /> </p><p><br /> BA chief executive Willie Walsh and Unite leaders Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson spent three hours at the conciliation service Acas. Mr Walsh said he hoped the injunction gave the union a chance to pause and consider again the "very fair" offer BA had made.<br /> </p><p><br /> He said relations between the two sides were "strained", but he added: "I genuinely believe it is time to move on. We have an opportunity to pause and reflect and hopefully we will be able to make progress."<br /> </p><p><br /> BA had argued Unite had not "properly complied" with the requirement to "send everyone eligible to vote details of the exact breakdown of the ballot result" and that, as a result, the strike action was "unlawful".<br /> </p><p><br /> Tony Woodley suggested Unite could now hold another ballot, adding that the result was a "bad day" for democracy in Britain.<br /> </p>
