A final end to the long and bitter dispute between British Airways and the Unite union has been reached.
The disagreement over working conditions is estimated to have cost BA more than £150 million, after cabin staff staged a total of 22 days of strike action in 2010.
Unite’s general secretary Len McCluskey addressed BA’s cabin crew today (May 12) at a mass meeting, held at Bedfont Football Club near Heathrow.
McCluskey updated cabin crew members on the agreement, and said they will be balloted for a final resolution in the coming weeks.
Unite will issue a "strong recommndation" that members vote yes to accepting the deal, he said.
No further industrial action will be called in the meantime.
McCluskey said: “We always said that this dispute could only be settled by negotiation, not by confrontation or litigation. And so it has proved."
He said he believes the agreement "recognises the rights and dignity of cabin crew as well as the commercial requirements of the company".
"This agreement will allow us to go forward in partnership together to strengthen this great British company - good news for BA, its employees and its customers alike," he added.
Staff travel concessions had been one of the main sticking points preventing an agreement, after striking cabin crew had their perks revoked.
This issue has now been resolved, said McCluskey: "I am particularly pleased that staff travel concessions will be restored in full with the signing of the agreement."
He also said a "new structure for working together" has been negotiated by BA and Unite.
British Airways has issued a statement saying it is "pleased" that an agreement has been reached and the threat of industrial action removed.
In a message to employees at BA, Keith Williams, the airline's CEO, said: "Our agreement with Unite involves acknowledgement by the union that the structural changes we have made in crew operations are permanent.
"The changes in numbers of onboard crew will remain, and the recruitment of new crew at Heathrow on different terms and conditions will continue."
He added: "We all have enormous admiration for the professionalism and skills of British Airways cabin crew. Together we have a great future in serving our customers and making this airline the envy of our competitors. It is time for us all to move forward."