BA cabin crew vote for strike action in pay dispute
Unite said BA crews were at breaking point and pay rates were indefensible, with many earning just over the minimum wage.
Thursday 15 December 2016 07:36, UK
British Airways cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strikes in a dispute over pay, trade union Unite said.
The union said its members backed walkouts by a 4-1 majority, raising the threat of disruption to flights at the carrier.
Unite has not indicated when the strikes might happen, but it would have to give seven days' notice of any action - meaning the walkouts could start before Christmas.
At the centre of the dispute are cabin crew who have joined the airline since 2010 - a total of 2,500 workers in BA's so-called "mixed fleet".
Unite said the jobs were advertised at salaries between £21,000 and £25,000 but that in reality they started at just over £12,000 plus £3 an hour flying pay.
The union's regional officer, Matt Smith, said: "British Airways' pay rates are indefensible and the crew are at breaking point.
"Mixed Fleet crew earn just over the minimum wage and below the national average.
"Significant numbers of crew are taking on second jobs, many go to work unfit to fly because they can't afford to be sick.
"British Airways bosses need to wake up to the anger and the injustice here."
BA said the workers involved represented about 15% of cabin crew and that it had proposed a "fair and reasonable" pay increase.
A spokesman said: "We are extremely disappointed that the union is creating uncertainty for our customers.
"We remain focused on resolving this issue as quickly as possible without any disruption to customers."