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As many as 73% of people say BA should restore check-in staff pay, union claims

A union threatening British Airways with summer strikes over pay is claiming a degree of public support for its actions.

Unite is fighting to restore a 10% pay cut on more than 500 check-in staff at Heathrow imposed during the pandemic.

The result of a poll of 1,071 people showed that 73% support the call for the money to be handed back and 59% said strike action was justified to restore pay levels.


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Almost a quarter (22%) of those polled admitted industrial action by BA employees would make them less likely to fly with the airline.

The union revealed last week that 97.4% of check-in workers had voted  in favour of striking to get their pay restored.

Strike dates have yet to be announced as the union has offered BA a “window of opportunity” to resolve its concerns or trigger action.

Unite national officer Oliver Richardson suggested that the staff involved are between £3,500 and £5,000 a year worse off.

He added: “This has never been about a pay rise – it is simply about recovering the wages of these workers to their pre-pandemic levels.

“The airline is now well on the way to recovery, and it can afford to restore what it took from the workers.

“Unless it gets a grip and backs its staff, BA is fast heading towards a summer of strikes.”

Travel Weekly has approached BA for comment.

MoreConcern BA strike threat will add to ‘travel chaos’ narrative

British Airways staff vote for summer strike at Heathrow

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