Fears of a Christmas strike by British Airways pilots receded at the weekend after the airline and the pilots’ union BALPA agreed a new pay deal. The offer is subject to a ballot but BALPA is recommending its members accept it.
According to The Times, the union is believed to have accepted an 11.5% pay rise over three years with the addition of a clause that allows for further rises in line with inflation. BA is also said to have offered concessions on working conditions.
The union said in a statement: “We can confirm that BALPA, BA and ACAS have put together a new pay and conditions proposal and, subject to final checks, BALPA expects it will shortly be consulting its 4,000 BA members on them.”
BA said: “We welcome this positive step.” The airline was forced to ground more than 2,300 flights, almost its entire schedule, when pilots staged a two-day walkout in September (BTN 9 September).
BA’s parent company International Airlines Group (IAG) said later the action, plus a threatened strike by Heathrow staff which was later called off but still led to flight cancellations, had cost it £134m.
www.britishairways.com
www.balpa.org
acas.org.uk
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