A walk-out at Virgin Atlantic could be on the horizon, after the pilots’ union announced plans for a strike ballot.
The dispute is over pay and working conditions, with pilots unhappy about a lack of pay increases.
Jim McAuslan, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA), which represents some 640 Virgin pilots, said: “Pilots in Virgin have not had a pay increase since 2008.”
He said the ballot, which is due to start on May 24, comes despite “marathon talks” over the past year, which involved the Government’s conciliation service Acas.
“We do not want a dispute but to date there has been no meaningful movement by the company and even the involvement of ACAS has not broken the logjam,” said McAuslan.
“With no-where left to go we have been left with no alternative but to give Virgin management notice of a ballot of Virgin Atlantic pilots for industrial action.”
Virgin is offering pilots a pay increase of 4% this year, and 3% in 2012 and 2013, according to McAuslan.
He said: “During the tough years pilots have made sacrifices to help the business on the basis that fair pay would return. Virgin's pilots feel very angry and disappointed at the way they are being treated after their sacrifices in 2008, 2009 and last year.
“The 4 per cent does not reflect the fact that pilots have not had a rise since 2008, and the proposed 3 per cent increases would mean that with inflation running at 5 per cent and likely to remain high, pilots would, if they accepted these increases, be in effect voting themselves years of wage cuts.”
The ballot will take four weeks to complete, with an announcement on the results due by June 21.
A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman confirmed the airline has received notice from BALPA of the ballot.
She said: “The company has made a fair, affordable and sustainable offer that is in line with the rest of the industry and we continue to be open to dialogue.
“Virgin Atlantic would like to reassure passengers that all of its flight schedule continues to operate as normal.”
www.virgin-atlantic.com