British Airways is on the brink of its first pilots’ strike after accusing ‘cynical’ union bosses of making an 11th-hour pay demand.
The Balpa union has refused to meet BA ahead of strike action on Monday and Tuesday unless the airline agrees to discuss a ramped-up pay deal that equates to an extra £11,600 a year for pilots.
While striking a conciliatory tone in public, Balpa sent an internal bulletin to members – including captains paid an average of £167,000 a year – preparing them for more strikes if no breakthrough is made.
British Airways is on the brink of its first pilots’ strike after accusing ‘cynical’ union bosses of making an 11th-hour pay demand
BA said Balpa submitted ‘inflated’ demands for extra bonuses and perks worth an extra £50 million a year, or about £11,600 on average among the airline’s 4,300 pilots.
It added that the total annual bill would be much higher because it would have to offer a similar deal to other staff, including cabin crew, under an agreement with the GMB and Unite unions.
Balpa initially offered to return to the negotiating table last week after its boss faced a backlash for going on a luxury cruise while leaving the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers in disarray.
Yesterday it offered another olive branch by insisting it was willing to call off strikes scheduled for Monday and Tuesday – which will hit 290,000 travellers – if BA agreed to resume talks under certain conditions. A third strike is scheduled for September 27.
Pilots have already rejected an inflation-busting pay rise of 11.5 per cent over three years, plus a 1 per cent bonus.
According to BA chief executive Alex Cruz, this would push the total average package for captains, including allowances and bonuses, above £200,000.
The 11.5 per cent pay deal has been accepted by the vast majority of BA staff, including cabin crew on a fraction of the salary enjoyed by pilots.
Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton said: ‘Avoiding strike action and agreeing a deal with their pilots surely must be the desired outcome for British Airways.
‘We urge BA to join us to discuss the new proposal.’
But BA said: ‘We remain open to constructive talks with Balpa… but we do not believe the union is acting in good faith by making an 11th-hour inflated proposal which would cost an additional £50 million.
The Balpa union, led by general secretary Brian Strutton (pictured last week with his wife on holiday in Sardinia) has refused to meet BA ahead of strike action on Monday and Tuesday unless the airline agrees to discuss a ramped-up pay deal that equates to an extra £11,600 a year for pilots
Balpa has cynically waited until we have helped the vast majority of customers with alternative travel arrangements, and our planning for a strike has reached a critical stage.
Our customers need the certainty that Balpa will call off the strikes for good, not just for two days next week.’
Tory MP Chris Philp said: ‘This is further evidence of the union’s completely unreasonable behaviour.
They seem to have no interest in settling this dispute and no regard for the impact their actions will have on holidaymakers – many of whom will have saved up all year for their break.’
It is understood Balpa’s statement was issued 45 minutes after the airline sent a memo to staff, saying it had overhauled the cabin crew roster in preparation for the strikes next week.
BA, which has its main bases at Heathrow and Gatwick, was scheduled to operate about 700 flights a day on Monday and Tuesday. But it has been estimated that as few as ten will take off on each day.
BA insists the ‘vast majority’ of the passengers due to travel had been rebooked with rival airlines.
Others have been forced to accept refunds or fly at a later date. But there are fears many BA passengers will turn up at airports for flights that have been cancelled.
The dispute between BA and union officials has become increasingly hostile. The airline is threatening to strip striking pilots of key perks, including discounted flights.
Similar tactics were used to punish striking cabin crew members.
Mr Strutton said: ‘It is absolutely not correct to say we are seeking more than we previously did.
‘We have compromised. We are seeking meaningful discussions, not acceptance by BA.
‘BA has made no proposals for resolution but Balpa has.’
The union had announced a return to the negotiating table hours after the Mail last week published pictures of Mr Strutton, who embarked on a luxury cruise the morning after announcing that BA pilots would go on strike.
Images of the £141,000-a-year union boss strolling with his wife in Sardinia angered passengers whose travel plans have been left in disarray.
Although the affected 450,000 passengers were offered a refund or a flight with a different airline, many have been forced to abandon their holidays.
The disarray was compounded by a gaffe by the airline, which emailed many passengers telling them their flight had been cancelled and that ‘it is likely that you will not be able to travel’.
BA was forced to send a follow-up email to many passengers telling them that, in fact, their flight would go ahead as planned.
But by then holidaymakers and business travellers had acted on the first email and booked another flight.
Adam French, consumer rights expert at Which?, said: ‘BA must do right by its passengers and ensure that anyone whose flight is cancelled is rerouted – with a rival airline if necessary – or refunded.’