British Airways flights could face disruption later this summer as three unions look set to hold strike ballots after rejecting a pay offer from the airline.
Pilots union Balpa has been holding joint talks, alongside fellow unions Unite and GMB, over a proposed pay increase for around 40,000 BA employees since November, including pilots, cabin crew, ground staff and engineers.
But the unions have rejected BA’s offer to staff with Balpa already planning to open a strike ballot of its members on 26 June.
“Set against a backdrop of record profits, and despite there being some progress, BA’s offer is too little too late,” said Balpa in a statement
“It also fails to address the fundamental principle of fairness by denying employees a reasonable share of the success they have helped produce.”
Balpa’s strike ballot will run until 22 July meaning pilots could start a walkout from August onwards.
Unite and GMB are also likely to launch their own strike ballots of members working at the airline.
“Unite reps will be having further discussions with BA and meeting in the coming days to discuss their next steps,” said the union. “These next steps could include a consultative ballot on any revised pay offer or a ballot for industrial action.”
British Airways said it was “extremely disappointed” that Balpa was planning to hold a strike ballot.
“We urge them to join us for mediation with the conciliation service Acas, to reach an agreement and protect hard-working families planning their summer breaks,” said the airline.
“We believe our pay and benefits for pilots are among the best in the industry, with around 1,000 applications from pilots who want to move to us from other airlines every year.”
Two years ago, BA settled a long-running pay dispute with members of its "mixed" fleet cabin crew.
ba.com