British Airways summer strike threatened – how to find out if your flight is affected
BRITISH Airways passengers are being warned for more flight strikes this summer.
Workers are balloting for a pay strike which could see as many as 500 Heathrow staff walk out.
The ballot will take place from June 7 to June 27, with strikes going ahead from July if put into motion.
Unite, the trade union, say check-in staff have missed out on pay rises and even though the airline has restored the management pay to pre-pandemic levels, it refuses to reverse a 10 per cent pay cut that was imposed during Covid.
Brits will be contacted if their flights will be affected, although the majority of BA flights at Heathrow Airport are likely to be delayed or cancelled during the strike.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “British Airways used the cover of Covid to brutally cut members’ pay.
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"BA has now reversed the pay cuts imposed on management but refuses to do this for our members.
"This is disgraceful. Unite will not allow our members to be treated as a second-class workforce.
“Our members are rightly furious and ready to take action. A strike by our members will make an immediate impact on the service to customers so I urge BA to get a grip and restore these workers’ pay immediately.
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“Unite will be giving its members the union’s complete support until this dispute is resolved.”
Unite regional officer Russ Ball said: “British Airways has had every opportunity to resolve this dispute through negotiations but has decided not to do so.
"Our members are therefore balloting for industrial action as a last resort.
“Strike action and the accompanying disruption can be avoided by BA returning to negotiations and restoring our members’ pay rates to pre-pandemic levels."
A spokesperson for British Airways said: "We are aware that some of our customer service colleagues will be participating in a ballot for industrial action initiated by Unite and GMB.
"Whilst not surprising given the issues across the transport sector, it's extremely disappointing.
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"After a deeply difficult two years which saw the business lose more than four billion pounds, these colleagues were offered a 10 per cent payment for this year which was rejected.
"We remain fully committed to talks with our trade unions about their concerns and we hope that together we can find a way to reach an agreement in the best interests of our people and our customers."
