British Airways’ passengers could face widespread disruption after members of the airline’s mixed fleet cabin crew said they would be prepared to strike after their pay claims were rejected.
According to The Guardian, around 95 per cent of crew who voted last week in a consultative ballot said they would take industrial action over pay.
A third of the eligible crew voted in the ballot, which was taken to gauge feeling in a fleet which unionised rapidly under Unite in 2012.
The newspaper claims that many new BA recruits are angry that they are earning less than staff at low-cost competitors Easyjet and Ryanair.
In 2010 a new category of crew (mixed fleet) was set up on inferior salaries and terms and conditions compared to existing staff. This led to a long-running bitter dispute between union members and BA.
The then BA CEO Willie Walsh, who earned £5 million in 2013 as head of parent company IAG, argued that traditional airlines needed to cut costs to survive.
However, The Guardianclaims many BA cabin crew are now reliant on working tax credits to supplement the £12,000 a year salaries, though the airline says earnings should reach £20,000 with full-flying rosters.
A pay rise was offered to BA cabin crew on pre-2010 contracts, who work exclusively either long-haul or short-haul in the worldwide or European fleets.
The mixed fleet crew were hoping to close the wage cap with their better-paid colleagues and counterparts, but no progress has been made.
A BA spokesman told TheGuardian: "Our cabin crew positions attract a high level of applicants due to the competitive package offered, our extensive route network and promotional opportunities.
“We are currently conducting pay talks with all parts of the airline and any talk of industrial action by one of four cabin crew groups is completely speculative."
Travellers in and out of France this week could face severe disruption if planned strikes from two French air traffic controllers’ unions go ahead.
The unions have warned up to 50 per cent of flights could be affected.
Britishairways.com