Following the rejection of last week’s peace deal offered by British Airways to its cabin crew, airline workers union Unite has announced that it plans to take BA to court over the removal of staff travel perks. Unite is arguing that the removal of travel privileges was in contravention of European Human Rights laws.

The union is also claiming that when the travel concessions were taken from some of its members, the proper disciplinary procedure for doing so was not followed by the airline.

British Airways boss, Willie Walsh, has always defended his right to remove travel privileges from members of staff who decide to take part in industrial action. In a statement, BA reiterated that travel benefits given to staff were not part of any contractual agreement, they are perks given by the airline, at its discretion, and can be removed at any time, the airline said.

BA added that cabin crew members who walked out on strike had been warned that their travel perks with the company were in danger of being revoked. The airline said that it rejects any claims made by Unite and will stand firm against any legal action the union plans to pursue.

Strikes by cabin crew have so far covered 22 days this year and cost the airline an estimated £150 million. The dispute was initially over cost cutting measures which meant a change to working practices. However, the main cause for contention between the airline and the union seems to have become the matter of getting travel perks back to those who have had them revoked.