UPDATE 1-BA cabin crew union to mount legal challenge

(Adds BA statement)

LONDON, July 26 (Reuters) - The union representing British Airways BAY.L cabin crew said on Monday it would take legal action against the airline over the removal of travel concessions from striking workers.

BA rejected the claim, saying it could withdraw travel perks at its discretion.

The Unite union has been embroiled in a long running dispute with the airline, which has resulted in a series of strikes costing BA 150 million pounds ($231.7 million).

A key sticking point in resolving the dispute, which originally centred around cuts to pay and staffing levels, has been BA's decision to remove travel perks from cabin crew who took part in the strikes.

"Unite believes that management's action breaches European human rights legislation," the union said in a statement. "It also believes that this sanction ... was taken without proper disciplinary procedures being followed."

BA said cabin crew were warned that if they took part in strike action they would lose their travel perks.

"Staff travel is a non-contractual perk that the company can withdraw at its discretion," a BA spokesman said. "We totally reject the claim from Unite and will defend our position vigorously."

Last week Unite said cabin crew had voted to reject a revised pay offer from BA, which included two years of guaranteed rises in basic pay in addition to annual incremental increases. [ID:nLDE66J1FO]

Unite, which represents 90 percent of BA's 12,000 cabin crew, said it would hold further talks with the company through conciliation service ACAS next week in a bid to resolve the dispute. (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by David Holmes) ($1=.6473 Pound)