BA strike is ON as pilots vote for summer chaos
‘Threat to the plans of thousands’
SUMMER holiday plans for millions of British Airways passengers were thrown into chaos last night after the airline’s pilots voted to strike over pay.
With families across the UK preparing to head abroad for a break, the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said its members had overwhelmingly backed a mass walk-out.
The union said that 93 per cent of those who voted in the ballot, which closed at noon yesterday, supported industrial action. The turnout was 90 per cent.
Around 3,000 BA pilots – including long-haul crew paid more than £150,000 a year on average – are now preparing to strike at one of the busiest times of the year in a move that threatens summer mayhem for families.
Brian Strutton, Balpa’s general secretary, said: ‘ This strong result demonstrates the resolve of BA pilots, and shows BA that it must table a sensible improved offer if a strike is to be averted.’
The strike ballot was initiated after Balpa rejected an 11.5 per cent pay rise over three years, including an inflation-busting rise of 4 per cent this year. The pilots’ union wants a bigger pay rise and a new bonus scheme reflecting BA’s record profits.
By contrast, the Unite and GMB unions, which represent most ordinary BA staff, from engineers to cabin crew, have recommended its members accept the 11.5 per cent rise.
Potential pilot strike dates have not been revealed and unions are legally required to give at least two weeks’ notice of a walk-out. Last night, the airline announced it would go to the High Court today to block the strike by seeking an injunction against Balpa, which is also balloting Ryanair pilots in a separate protest over pay and conditions.
Any strike by BA pilots is likely to ground the vast majority of the company’s flights because Balpa represents around 3,800 of BA’s 4,500 pilots. At peak summer periods, BA operates around 900 flights a day in and out of 14 UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh. Around one million people a week use the airline, with 130,000 likely to be affected on the first day of any strike.
The only passengers unaffected would be those at London City airport using the airline’s CityFlyer service, whose pilots are paid through a different contract and are not involved in the dispute.
Militant unions have been accused of targeting summer holidays to gain maximum leverage over bosses.
Less than half an hour after Balpa’s announcement, the Unite union also said more than 90 firefighters and rescue staff at Heathrow airport had voted to strike in a separate dispute over pay. They will join more than 4,000 workers, including security guards and engineers, in two-day strikes planned for August 5 and 6, plus August 23 and 24.
A strike by EasyJet check-in staff will begin on Thursday, while Unite is balloting members for a walk- out at London Gatwick. Last night, MPs urged Balpa and BA to return to the negotiating table.
Huw Merriman, Tory MP and member of the Commons transport committee, said: ‘ The vast majority of these passengers will not be receiving anything like the 11.5 per cent pay increase, so I hope that the union leaders will find a way to keep our national carrier flying.’
A spokesman for BA said: ‘ We are very disappointed that Balpa has chosen to threaten the travel plans of thousands of our customers. We remain open to working to reach an agreement, which we have been doing since December.’
Adam French, of the consumer group Which?, said: ‘It is vital for BA to plan ahead and make sure they have the staff and capacity to minimise the impact.’