Virgin pilots vote to strike over pay
Virgin Atlantic pilots have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strikes in a dispute over pay, raising the threat of disruption to summer travel.
For the first time in the history of the company, and the first time in Britain for 32 years, pilots voted in favour of industrial action.
“The size of the poll (a turnout of 94 per cent) and the huge majority for action (97 per cent of Virgin Atlantic’s pilots were ballotted) should send a clear message to Sir Richard Branson,” said British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) General Secretary, Jim McAuslan.
Pilots are unhappy with a 4 per cent pay rise offer, citing a pay freeze of three years.
The union said Virgin Atlantic pilots have not had a pay rise since 2008 after agreeing to forgo an increase to help the company, with the expectation of a “fair” hike this year.
Balpa, which represents most of Virgin’s 750 pilots, said it had decided to ballot its members because it had expected a bigger pay deal this year.
Balpa’s executive will meet later in the week to discuss the ballot result, and will have to give Virgin seven days notice of any walkouts.
It is thought industrial action could take place either at the end of this month or the start of July.
If the strikes do go ahead, it could cost Virgin Atlantic millions of pounds. When British Airways staff went on strike for 22 days last year, it cost the company £154m.
Read more: British Airways cabin crew strike and its aftermath
Mr McAuslan added: “I am happy to meet him anywhere and anytime to resolve this. My messages are simple: pilots do not want to strike and are hugely disappointed by the company’s approach. There has been no UK pilot strike for 32 years. But there comes a time when even moderate people say ‘enough’.
“Pilots are being driven to strike. With no pay increase since 2008, a below inflation offer for 2011 and proposals for 2012 and 2013 that will be sub-inflation this is now a six year attack on living standards which has not happened in any other UK airline.
He added: “Having been at this since last November, time is running out. If damage is to be avoided and passengers not inconvenienced then Sir Richard needs to act now.”
A Virgin spokesman said: “We continue to have talks with Balpa. We have made an offer twice the national average for UK businesses and ahead of the majority of the airline industry. Pilots are an extremely valuable part of our workforce and we hope we can find a resolution.”
However, Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway said: “Everybody is very clear that we need to reach an agreement. Both sides are very motivated to get a resolution and I know the pilots, I know they don’t want to go on strike.”
“It’s just a matter of can we reach an agreement on what is right in the current market and what the company can afford. We hoped to have reached an agreement by now. All the rest of the company has reached an agreement, which is the first pay rise that anyone’s had for two years.”