Pilots union BALPA is to write to its Easyjet members to ask about “their willingness to take industrial action”.
BALPA (British Airline Pilots Association) has objected to Easyjet’s announcement earlier this month about recruiting 330 new pilots which it claims is a move by the airline to move “casual” pilots on to contracts with lower terms and conditions than existing Easyjet pilots.
The union’s general secretary Jim McAuslan has written to Easyjet chairman Sir Michael Rake to complain about the airline’s move, ahead of Easyjet’s annual general meeting on Thursday (February 21).
“Pilots reading new stories such as ‘330 new permanent jobs for pilots’ know the truth of casual employment and low conditions at Easyjet,” said McAuslan in his letter to Easyjet.
“They know that this new contract will, after debt repayments, leave them bringing home less than they might earn by working in a bar.”
BALPA has announced that it is polling current Easyjet members to ask “how they feel about the future of Easyjet and raising the question about their willingness to take industrial action if this situation cannot be resolved”.
Easyjet defended their move by saying that pilots “earn relatively less when they are training in their early years” and points out that this is the same for other young professionals such as “doctors, lawyers and architects”.
“Because we are one of the few airlines to be growing profitably in Europe these pilots will have the potential to move from first officer to captain more quickly than at other airlines,” said the airline in a statement.
“By any aviation industry standard this is a good career path with fair and reasonable rewards.
“We have endeavoured to engage with the pilots union and we call upon them to work constructively with Easyjet to ensure the airline’s continued success.”