More than 2,000 British Airways staff have rejected proposals from the employer to cut 3,500 jobs and impose a pay freeze to save costs.

British Airways has already asked its 40,000 staff to take voluntary unpaid leave or pay cuts, but further redundancies and a pay freeze was a step too far for staff who, according to the BBC, held a mass meeting yesterday in reaction to the proposals.

A spokesman from British Airways said the organisation's stance was the same as it was last week, adding: "It has not proved possible to conclude an agreement with the trade unions on our pay and productivity discussions by the deadline of 30 June. We have therefore asked the conciliation service ACAS to facilitate any future meetings we may have."