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British Airways Heathrow staff back summer strikes over pay | British Airways Heathrow staff back summer strikes over pay |
(32 minutes later) | |
Hundreds of British Airways workers at Heathrow Airport have voted to go on strike over pay. | Hundreds of British Airways workers at Heathrow Airport have voted to go on strike over pay. |
Unite and GMB union members who are mostly check-in staff backed industrial action on Thursday. | |
A total of 700 workers are set to strike during the summer holidays, when demand from travellers is expected to be near pre-pandemic levels. | |
The unions said the action was due to a 10% pay cut imposed during the peak of the pandemic not being reinstated. | The unions said the action was due to a 10% pay cut imposed during the peak of the pandemic not being reinstated. |
Some 500 Unite members recorded a 94.7% vote in favour of industrial action, while 95% of GMB members backed the walkouts. | Some 500 Unite members recorded a 94.7% vote in favour of industrial action, while 95% of GMB members backed the walkouts. |
The strike dates will be confirmed in the coming days. | The strike dates will be confirmed in the coming days. |
The proposed action relates to fewer than 50% of British Airways staff based at Heathrow in customer-facing roles only, and there are other customer service workers who have not been balloted. | |
It is understood that if strikes go ahead, BA, which operates from terminals three and five at Heathrow, has plans to cover staff, including managers potentially dealing with check-ins. | It is understood that if strikes go ahead, BA, which operates from terminals three and five at Heathrow, has plans to cover staff, including managers potentially dealing with check-ins. |
However, there would still be disruption for passengers, especially at terminal five, leading to cancellations, which would be focused on routes with several daily flights. | However, there would still be disruption for passengers, especially at terminal five, leading to cancellations, which would be focused on routes with several daily flights. |
5,000 people hit by Heathrow flight cancellations | 5,000 people hit by Heathrow flight cancellations |
Are UK travellers heading for a summer of misery? | Are UK travellers heading for a summer of misery? |
Will my summer holiday flights be cancelled? | |
The GMB claimed that while other British Airways workers have been given a 10% bonus, "the check-in staff have had nothing". | |
British Airways said it was "extremely disappointed" with the result of the ballot. | |
"Despite the extremely challenging environment and losses of more than £4bn, we made an offer of a 10% payment which was accepted by the majority of other colleagues," a statement said. | |
The airline said it was committed to talks to "find a solution" with unions. | |
Unite officer Russ Ball accused BA of having "insulted this workforce, slashing pay by 10% to restore it to managers but not to our members". | Unite officer Russ Ball accused BA of having "insulted this workforce, slashing pay by 10% to restore it to managers but not to our members". |
Mr Ball said the airline had a "short window of opportunity" to up workers' pay to pre-pandemic levels or face walkouts that would "inevitably cause severe disruption". | Mr Ball said the airline had a "short window of opportunity" to up workers' pay to pre-pandemic levels or face walkouts that would "inevitably cause severe disruption". |
Meanwhile, Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, said BA had "tried to offer our members crumbs from the table in the form of a 10% one-off bonus payment, but this doesn't cut the mustard". | |
"It's not too late to save the summer holidays - other BA workers have had their pay cuts reversed, do the same for ground and check in staff and this industrial action can be nipped in the bud," she added. | |
Tens of thousands of passengers have been hit by airport disruption and flight cancellations in recent weeks. | Tens of thousands of passengers have been hit by airport disruption and flight cancellations in recent weeks. |
Hundreds of flights across the UK were cancelled during the week of the Platinum Jubilee and school half-term holidays, and concerns have been raised of further travel woes during the summer. | Hundreds of flights across the UK were cancelled during the week of the Platinum Jubilee and school half-term holidays, and concerns have been raised of further travel woes during the summer. |
The disruption has been caused by several factors, but staff shortages have left the aviation industry struggling to cope with resurgent demand for overseas travel. | The disruption has been caused by several factors, but staff shortages have left the aviation industry struggling to cope with resurgent demand for overseas travel. |
Heathrow Airport has increased its annual passenger forecast once again. | Heathrow Airport has increased its annual passenger forecast once again. |
The UK's largest airport says it expects 54.4 million passengers to travel through its terminals, up by nearly nine million on the guidance it gave in December. | The UK's largest airport says it expects 54.4 million passengers to travel through its terminals, up by nearly nine million on the guidance it gave in December. |
Are you a BA worker who plans to strike? Do you and your family have a holiday coming up? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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