More havoc looms for holidaymakers as BA staff threaten summer strike
More havoc looms for holidaymakers as British Airways staff threaten summer strike over pay
- Unions who represent check-in staff are striking over pandemic pay reductions
- Heathrow staff took a 10 percent pay cut in the pandemic so want salaries back
- Unite called it ‘disgraceful’ as members are ‘treated as second-class workforce’
- Strikes could begin by July and continue into August, halting summer holidays
British Airways customers were yesterday warned they face a summer of chaos as hundreds of staff threaten to strike.
Two unions representing check-in staff – GMB and Unite – are balloting members in a row over pay.
Staff at Heathrow Airport took a 10 per cent pay cut during the pandemic and are demanding their full salaries are reinstated. Without any check-in staff, most flights will likely be grounded.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘British Airways used the cover of Covid to brutally cut members’ pay. BA has now reversed the pay cuts imposed on management but refuses to do this for our members. This is disgraceful.
British Airways planes at Heathrow Airport
‘Unite will not allow our members to be treated as a second-class workforce.’
Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, said: ‘BA forced our members into pay cuts during the pandemic. It is their time to claim back what is theirs.’ Strikes could begin by July and continue into August.
BA said the majority of staff accepted a ‘generous’ one-off lump sum equivalent to 10 per cent of their salary. But check-in staff rejected this because it meant taking a long-term pay cut.
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