Britain is preparing for a summer of “mass disruption” after British Airways workers voted in favor of a strike on the same day that the railways were almost closed by industrial action.
Ground-based staff at the Heathrow center supported the departure with a huge majority in their fight to repeal the pay cuts imposed during the Covid pandemic.
Up to 1,000 workers will take part in the strike, which according to GMB Union “is likely to be during the peak summer vacation period”.
“Vacationers are facing huge disruptions due to the recklessness of British Airways,” it said.
Downing Street said further strikes “would only increase the misery facing airport passengers”. A spokesman promised to “consider what emergency measures BA could implement” to circumvent the action.
This comes after passengers face a second all-day strike by transport workers, while Britain’s largest education union, the National Education Union (NEU), and junior doctors also warned they could take industrial action later this or next year if the government fails to meet the requirements for improved pay and conditions.
Ministers and business leaders are now assessing the potential consequences of a summer of discontent if public and private workers go on strike and win offers for better pay.
The government is ready to pass laws that allow companies to replace the work of strikers with agency workers as early as Monday. However, the use of casual labor to replace striking workers is unlikely to succeed, except against the lowest paid or less skilled workers.
The deepening cost of living crisis could provoke further industrial controversy in the coming months, said Yael Selfin, chief economist at accounting firm KPMG. If this leads to proposals for higher wages, it would “worry” politicians who set interest rates at the central bank, she added.
“The risk of a recession has increased,” Ms Selfin said, adding that higher energy costs and a supply chain disruption due to Russia’s war in Ukraine have put pressure on households in the UK.
Strikes that trigger higher wages will “worry the Bank of England,” she said.
“It will probably increase costs and interest rates will rise even faster. That would mean even deeper weakening, as higher interest rates slow down the economy, “Ms Selfin said.
Rising prices of basic goods and services brought inflation to a new 40-year high of 9.1% in the 12 months to May, according to official figures released this week.
Meanwhile, wages rose by about 4% in the three months to April.
The pain for households will worsen as the Bank of England forecasts that inflation could reach around 11 per cent later this year.
The Heathrow strike involved British Airways ground staff, mostly low-paid women. GMB union members voted 95 percent in favor of the strike. Turnout was 80 percent. Unite union members from the same group of workers are also expected to vote for the strike.
Insiders suggest that the first strike may take place over the weekend of July 9 and 10, which coincides with the first weekend of summer vacation for many schools in England.
“BA has tried to offer our members table crumbs in the form of a 10% one-time bonus payment, but that doesn’t reduce the mustard,” said Nadine Houghton, GMB’s national employee.
They are urging BA to reimburse the 10 percent reduction they took during the pandemic. They claim that “boss pay has returned to pre-pandemic levels”, with Luis Galego, CEO of BA IAG’s parent company, on the pay line of £ 4.9 million this year.
“Our members must be reimbursed for the 10 percent they stole last year, with full remuneration and the 10 percent bonus paid to other colleagues,” Ms. Houghton said.
“It’s not too late to save the summer holidays – other BA workers have had their pay cuts canceled,” she said, adding: “Do the same for ground and check-in staff and this industrial action can be eliminated in its infancy.”
Former shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who is based in West London and is home to many Heathrow workers, told The Independent: “BA is using the pandemic to cut wages, so it’s no surprise that workers are seeking to make up for this loss. now that airport operations are returning to normal and they are facing a cost of living crisis.
“The possible use of agency staff will exacerbate this type of dispute and encourage the expansion of all actions.”
Meanwhile, there were few signs of progress in the rail dispute.
“Our members are leading the way in advocating for all working people who are trying to get a pay rise and some job security,” said RMT Secretary General Mick Lynch.
“In today’s economy, workers must be adequately rewarded for their work, enjoy good conditions and be reassured that their jobs will not be taken away from them.”
It was followed by the announcement that more railway workers would vote for strikes, threatening new disruptions to the industry.
The Transport Employees Association (TSSA) has issued a notice of vote to dozens of members of the TransPennine Express (TPE) for strikes and actions other than strikes in a dispute over pay, conditions and job security.
Voting begins on June 29 and ends in mid-July, so the earliest action can be taken is July 27.
TSSA also voted for its members on Network Rail, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, Northern, LNER, C2C and Great Western Railway (GWR) in an escalating rail dispute.
A TUC spokesman said: “Working people are at a turning point after the longest and most severe wage cuts in 200 years.
“Despite the urgent cost of living, ministers are determined to withhold workers’ pay – while turning a blind eye to the city’s shocking surplus.
“This is the same government that promised us a high-wage economy. Wage withholding and attacking unions will not achieve this.
“With the prospect of a serious decline in living standards, it is right for workers to unite to protect their pay and conditions.”
A British Airways spokesman said: “We are extremely disappointed with the outcome and the fact that the unions have chosen to take this course of action.
“Despite the extremely challenging environment and the loss of over £ 4 billion, we made a 10 per cent payment offer, which was accepted by the majority of other colleagues.
“We are fully committed to working together to find a solution, because in order to provide our customers and rebuild our business, we need to work as a team. Of course, we will keep our customers informed of what this means for them as the situation develops. “
The Independent understands that the 10 percent offered by BA is a one-time payment that will not be consolidated into the basic salary.
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