British Airways check-in staff at Heathrow Airport will be voted on strike next month in a pay dispute.
Unite, the union, said workers were forced to pay a 10% pay cut during the coronavirus pandemic, but bosses have refused to reverse it, even though they restored their own pay to previous levels. to the pandemic.
The industrial action vote, which covers about 500 workers, will open on June 7 and close on June 27.
If workers approve the strike action, it is expected to take place in July, the maximum month of summer getaways.
United Secretary – General Sharon Graham said: “British Airways used COVID coverage to brutally reduce members’ salaries.
“BA has now reversed the salary cuts imposed on management, but refuses to do so for our members.
“That’s a shame. Unite will not allow our members to be treated as a second-class workforce.”
He added: “A strike by our members will have an immediate impact on customer service, so I urge BA to monitor and restore the pay of these workers immediately.”
Strike vote “extremely disappointing”
In a statement to Sky News, a BA spokesman said: “We have received notification that some of our customer service colleagues will be participating in a vote for an industrial action.
“It simply came to our notice then.
“After two very difficult years in which the airline lost more than £ 4bn, these companies were offered a 10% payment for this year which was rejected.
“Other parts of the organization accepted the same offer, acknowledging the position of the business.
“We remain engaged in talks with our unions about their concerns and hope that together we can find a way to reach an agreement in the best interests of our people and our customers.”
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0:45 Travel chaos at airports
BA is understood to have contingency plans in place in the event that workers decide to go on strike, representing less than 50% of BA’s customer service team at Heathrow.
It comes just days after easyJet and Tui launched their travel plans into chaos by announcing a series of cancellations over the next few days.
Passengers have also faced long queues at airports such as Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted and Bristol.
Airlines and airports have blamed computer problems and staff shortages.