The Unite trade union is hoping to meet British Airways for further peace talks next week after accusing the airline of turning down its latest attempt to end a long-running industrial dispute with cabin crew.

Unite’s joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, wrote to 11,000 BA flight attendants after the carrier told staff that it was "focused" on trying to resolve the dispute in talks hosted by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

One of the biggest barriers to a resolution is the airline’s refusal to fully reinstate travel perks stripped from thousands of cabin crew who joined 22 days of walkouts this year. BA in turn claims that union intransigence is the main factor blocking a deal.

Woodley said in an email to members that proposals to return the perks, and involve Acas in disciplinary proceedings against staff, had been turned down by the airline. "The union has made what we regard as helpful proposals for both parties to go to conciliation on the outstanding issues, and has made substantive proposals regarding the return of full travel concessions within a time-limited period and the involvement of Acas in disciplinary procedures."

He added: "The company advised that all these proposals had been turned down." 

Disciplinary measures brought against crew for alleged infractions committed during the industrial dispute have become a source of bitterness between both sides, with senior figures within Bassa, Unite’s main cabin crew branch, among those sacked or investigated by BA management. A total of 13 staff have been sacked so far. BA has said that action taken against staff is in line with internal guidelines agreed previously with union representatives across the airline.

In an email to staff last week, the BA executive in charge of cabin crew, Bill Francis, said: "I can assure you our focus has been, and remains, on trying to find a way to resolve this dispute so that we can all look forward to the future." In his response to Unite members, Woodley described the BA statement as "misleading and over-optimistic".

However, Unite hopes to meet BA under the aegis of Acas next week for renewed attempts at breaking the deadlock in a dispute sparked last year by BA’s decision to unilaterally reduce crewing levels on flights. A BA peace offer, which did not repeal the cuts, was rejected by cabin crew in a consultative poll last month but Unite has so far declined to hold a ballot for strike action. A BA spokesman said: "We remain available for talks and believe that we have made a good offer to cabin crew. Non-union cabin crew have signed up to the deal in large numbers."