British Airways CEO Sean Doyle was warned during a meeting with pilots’ representatives last Tuesday that “only quantifiable actions … would be acceptable,” according to an email to its members seen by the Telegraph last week. “This didn’t happen,” the email reads.
British Airways pilots agreed to sacrifice part of their paychecks to curb job losses in a pay deal agreed in July 2020. They accepted temporary wage cuts of 20 percent, which fell to 8 percent over the next two years, reducing the number of jobs from 1,255 to 270.
Pilots want a pay rise instead of a pay cut. Union sources said calls are mounting for a vote on strike action after witnessing the success of unions Unite and GMB.
Ground handling personnel halted planned industrial action last week after winning an 8 percent pay rise. Meanwhile, employees of tank companies that operate competing aircraft have received a 10 percent pay increase.
A union source said: “They did it by stamping their feet and voting on strike action.
“BA seems to ignore you until you cast a vote,” is the sentiment among members. At Balpa we usually don’t like to do that. We prefer to take it mature. But we are under enormous pressure. And the longer this takes, the harder it gets.”
Tom Keeney, an experienced BT manager, was dropped earlier this month to lead the talks on behalf of British Airways. He was hired in a new position called Director of Labor Relations.
Talks continued today after Balpa wrote to airline chiefs reaffirming that the salary sacrifice scheme should be abandoned.
Martin Chalk, Balpa’s general secretary, said: “We are in talks with British Airways to convince them that continued deductions from our members’ wages are not justified. We should really be talking about wage increases given the inflation scenario.
“Unless BA is willing to walk that path with us, we will need to consult with members to consider our next actions.”
British Airways has been contacted for comment.