Some British Airways Plc ground workers voted to strike over pay today but talks to resolve the dispute are expected to continue next week, one of the unions representing staff said.
The GMB union said a ballot of its estimated 2,600 members was 53 per cent in favour of industrial action if management did not raise its offer for inflation-only pay increases.
It said 48.6 per cent of members voted in the ballot.
"As a result of that ballot I will be meeting the GMB shop stewards on Monday to plan what industrial action we take as a consequence," GMB national officer Mr Allan Black told reporters.
No date for a strike has been set.
BA said it was confident it will avoid a walkout by staff.
More than 10,000 BA ground staff, including baggage handlers, check-in and administration staff are being balloted on whether to strike, threatening to disrupt summer travel at Britain's airports.
The larger Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) expects to know the results of a separate vote by its members on Wednesday.
Its members are also expected to back industrial action but a yes vote does not mean a strike. Union and management may return to the negotiating table for up to a week to resolve the issue.
BA has been locked in talks with unions since January over its offer of a 8.5 percent wage rise over three years.
It fears a repeat of last summer's wildcat strike by check-in staff at London's Heathrow airport which forced BA to scrap about 500 flights, causing travel chaos for more than 100,000 people.
BA, which has cut 13,000 jobs in the past two years, argues it cannot afford to increase wages further as it must pay an extra 133 million pounds ($243.5 million) a year to make up pension plan shortfalls.