BA pilots threaten strike ballot over pay

Balpa union demands cut in wages agreed during the pandemic is reversed amid cost of living crisis

British Airways pilots want a ballot on strike action after airline chiefs rejected demands for a new pay deal. The pilots’ union, Balpa, is preparing to threaten industrial action after a wave of ballots secured wage increases for airport check-in and baggage staff. A walkout this summer will cause further misery for thousands of travellers who have already endured a wave of cancelled flights and tortuous traffic jams at Dover and Folkestone. They also face imminent rail strikes.

BRITISH Airways pilots are clamouring for a ballot on strike action in a fresh blow for holidaymakers after airline chiefs rejected demands for a new pay deal.

Under growing pressure from members, the pilots’ union Balpa is preparing to threaten industrial action after a wave of ballots secured wage increases for check-in and baggage staff.

A walkout could come as soon as this summer, causing further misery for travellers who have already endured a wave of cancelled flights and traffic jams at Dover and Folkestone.

The spectre of a strike by pilots came as a third rail union launched industrial action in August, heaping fresh misery on families hoping to avoid travel chaos by going on holiday in the UK.

British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle was warned during a meeting with pilot representatives last Tuesday that “only quantifiable actions would be acceptable”, according to an email to its members last week seen by The Daily Telegraph. “This did not occur,” the email said.

British Airways pilots agreed to sacrifice a portion of their salaries to mitigate job losses in a pay deal in July 2020. They accepted temporary pay cuts of 20pc, falling to 8pc over the following two years, allowing job cuts to be reduced from 1,255 to 270.

Pilots want a pay increase rather than a pay cut. Union sources said that there are increasing calls for a vote on strike action after witnessing the success of the Unite and GMB unions.

Ground handling crew halted planned industrial action last week after winning an 8pc pay rise. Meanwhile, staff working for refuelling companies that service rival aircraft have been offered a 10pc wage increase.

A union source said: “They did it by stomping their feet and having a ballot on strike action.

“‘BA seems to ignore you until you issue a ballot’, is the sentiment among members. Within Balpa we don’t usually like to do that. We would rather take a grown-up approach. But we are under enormous pressure. And the longer this goes on, the harder it gets.”

Tom Keeney, a veteran BT executive, was parachuted in earlier this month to lead talks on behalf of British Airways. He was hired in a new role entitled director of industrial relations.

Talks continued after Balpa wrote to airline chiefs reasserting that the salary sacrifice scheme had to be abandoned.

Martin Chalk, Balpa general secretary, said: “We are in talks with British Airways and wish to persuade them that continuing deductions from our members’ pay is unwarranted. We should actually be talking about pay increases given the inflationary scenario.

“Unless BA is prepared to walk with us down that road then we will have to consult with members to consider our next actions.”

A spokesman for British Airways said: “We remain committed to continuing talks with the union.”

Strikes by Balpa would bring British Airways’ operations to a near-standstill. The last time pilots walked out, in 2019, nearly 100pc of flights were cancelled. The airline offered improved terms in the weeks that followed.

Separately, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) said it would strike seven separate train operating companies on August 18 and 20.

It has joined the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union (RMT) and drivers union Aslef in launching industrial action. The TSSA action will take place at the same time as two days of walkouts by the RMT.

RMT will also strike tomorrow into Thursday morning and Aslef will walk out this Saturday.

Train operators were left exasperated by the TSSA announcement. A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group said: “Co-ordinated action by the union leaderships of the TSSA, RMT and Aslef shows a cynical approach to talks, a total disregard for passengers and is putting summer plans at risk. Like any public service we have to change with the times, and it’s only by making necessary reforms that we can give our people a pay rise. Which is what we want to do.”

Manuel Cortes, TSSA general secretary, said: “We do not take strike action lightly, but enough is enough.”