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British Airways is to go to the High Court later to try to stop the latest strikes by its cabin staff.At the same time, both the government and conciliation service Acas will be making attempts to get BA and the Unite union to reach a settlement.
BA is seeking an injunction, just 24 hours before the first of four separate five-day walkouts is due to be held.
Earlier this month, Unite members rejected the airline's fresh deal on pay and working conditions.
Details of that deal were not given, but Unite said BA had failed to restore the travel perks it withdrew from staff involved in the previous strikes in March.
'Flawed ballot'
BBC employment correspondent Martin Shankleman says BA has a track record of winning court battles with Unite.
The airline successfully blocked a strike over Christmas on the grounds that the union unlawfully balloted cabin crew who were leaving the airline.
Later, BA lawyers will argue that the follow-up ballot was also flawed because Unite did not observe the precise rules of how to announce the result.
A Unite spokesman has said the union would "vigorously defend our ballot".
"We have already responded to the company, and notified them that we have fully complied with the law," he said.
Our correspondent said the hearing was likely to overshadow increasingly desperate efforts to find a negotiated settlement.
New Transport Secretary Philip Hammond is set to meet both sides on Monday, after which Unite and BA will enter talks with Acas.
The first strike is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, ending on 22 May, with the three further strikes planned to begin on 24 May, 30 May and 5 June.This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.