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With 12,000 cabin crew staff represented by Unite threatening to strike, British Airways has begun training volunteers from its own staff to serve food, give safety demonstrations, and sell duty-free goods on flights. Unite members attempted to strike over the Christmas holidays but were ordered by the courts to work as usual through one of the busiest travel times of the year. A new strike vote has now been authorized for the end of February, and a strike could begin as early as March. The airline, which expressed disappointment in the union's decision to hold a second strike vote, took volunteers from its baggage handler and pilot staff to train as cabin crew in the event of a strike. Unite spokespersons have said the union is angry over the 'training' of highly inexperienced cabin crew, which they believe could have harmful safety repercussions.