Article from BTNews 26 SEPTEMBER 2016
easyJet strike
The strike planned by easyJet pilots has been called off whilst the two sides continue discussions. Any action might have been counter-productive with all staff members benefiting from a share allocation scheme.
The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) said talks had been held to try to resolve the row concerning what is termed ‘duty hours’, that is the time aircrew literally ‘clock-in’ for briefing well in advance of the flight, until not required at the final airport.
The union said proposals to mitigate pilot fatigue would now be put to members in a ballot.
Brian Strutton, BALPA's general secretary, said it did not mean the dispute was over, but "sufficient progress" had been made. The imminence of a strike has been averted.
He said: "We have been working hard today and over the last few days to find a solution to this dispute about pilot fatigue.
"easyJet management have put a proposal on the table that the BALPA team feel has closed the gap between us considerably on a range of issues.”
The core issue of the dispute is the union's claim that fatigue had risen year on year, to a level that BALPA found unacceptable.
The airline said it now expected that a "mutually agreeable solution" could be reached.
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