EasyJet strike threat to half-term breaks

CHIEF REPORTER PILOTS at budget airline easyJet are plotting strike action that could disrupt the October half-term holiday for thousands of families.

About 2,000 British-based staff are being balloted for industrial action over complaints of rising levels of fatigue that union officials say risk “serious health and safety concerns”.

The vote, conducted by to Balpa says the “impending industrial action” revolves around a “dispute with easyJet purely concerning pilot fatigue in easyJet and all matters relating to it”.

It adds: “The core issue of the dispute was that fatigue had risen year on year to levels pilots and Balpa find unacceptable.”

Brian Strutton, the union’s general secretary, said: “I can confirm that formal negotiations between Balpa and easyJet regarding a trade dispute have concluded without agreement and we are therefore conducting an industrial action ballot.”

Talks that had been going on for more than a year broke down last month. It is understood that pilots are being asked to vote on whether to take action short of a strike and industrial action that includes going on strike.

In a statement, the airline said: “easyJet can reassure its passengers that no industrial action is currently planned by its UK pilots … easyJet and Balpa continue to work together as we are both committed to finding a resolution.”