British Airways pilots are pushing for a strike vote in a fresh blow to holidaymakers after airline bosses rejected demands for a new pay deal.
Under mounting pressure from members, pilots’ union Balpa is preparing to threaten strike action after a wave of votes secured pay rises for check-in and baggage staff.
The departure could happen as early as this summer, causing further misery for thousands of passengers who have already endured a spate of canceled flights and congestion at Dover and Folkestone.
The specter of a pilot strike loomed as a third rail union launched industrial action in August, heaping fresh misery on families hoping to avoid travel chaos by holidaying in the UK.
British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle was warned during a meeting with pilot representatives last Tuesday that “only quantifiable action … would be acceptable”, according to an email to members last week seen by the Telegraph. “This did not happen,” the email said.
British Airways pilots agreed to sacrifice part of their wages to mitigate job losses in a pay deal agreed in July 2020. They accepted temporary pay cuts of 20%, falling to 8% over the next two years , allowing job cuts to be reduced from 1,255 to 270.
Pilots want a pay raise, not a pay cut. Union sources said there were increasing calls for a strike action vote after witnessing the success of the Unite and GMB unions.
Ground handling crew suspended planned strike action last week after winning an 8% pay rise. Meanwhile, staff working for refueling companies that service rival jets have been offered a 10% pay rise.
A union source said: “They did it by stamping their feet and voting for strike action.
“Looks like BA is ignoring you until you vote,” is the sentiment among members. We at Balpa don’t usually like to do that. We prefer to take a grown-up approach. But we are under enormous pressure. the longer this goes on, the harder it gets.”
Tom Keaney, a veteran BT executive, was parachuted in earlier this month to negotiate on behalf of British Airways. He was hired into a new position called Director of Industrial Relations.
Talks continued on Monday after Balpa wrote to airline bosses saying the salary sacrifice scheme should be abandoned.
Martin Chalk, general secretary of Balpa, said: “We are in talks with British Airways and want to convince them that the continued deductions from our members’ wages are unjustified. In fact, we should be talking about an increase in wages given the inflationary scenario.
“Unless BA is prepared to go down this path with us, then we will need to consult members to consider our next course of action.”
A British Airways spokesman said: “We remain committed to continuing negotiations with the union.”
Balpa strikes would bring British Airways operations to a near standstill. The last time pilots walked out, in September 2019, nearly 100% of flights were canceled. The airline offered improved conditions in the coming weeks.
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