What's the BA dispute about?

WHAT is the dispute which triggered the unofficial walkout by British Airways Heathrow check-in staff about?

The airline has made an offer of a 3% pay rise but this has been held up because it is conditional on staff accepting a new electronic system for clocking in and out.

BA insists the idea was simply to replace a paper-based method and said the new system was widespread across British industry.

But employees feared the move would lead to them being sent home during quiet periods and then having to make up the time during busier days.

BA insists this is 'absolute nonsense' but it failed to calm the fears of staff and the problem escalated dramatically when workers were told that the new system was being implemented anyway.

More than 250 check-in staff left their desks in a spontaneous, and unofficial, gesture of defiance which even took union officials by surprise.

The unions claim they have co-operated with thousands of job cuts following the downturn in air travel in the wake of the September 11 terrorist outrage.

They claim staff are furious that the pay deal has been linked to the introduction of the new system and that the wage rise is already months overdue.