A vote by pilots on whether to take a dispute with Thomas Cook Airlines to arbitration closes today.
If members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association vote yes, the result will then be put to the company to decide whether it is also happy to enter the arbitration process.
But a strike set for 24 hours on Friday will go ahead if pilots vote no to arbitration, or should the company refuse to agree to arbitration, the union warned.
Further industrial action is also planned – three days from October 12 and four days from October 19 – should a deal not be reached over pay and conditions before then.
Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton said: “We always wanted to resolve the pay dispute in Thomas Cook through negotiation but nine days of ACAS talks resulted in a stalemate.
“Therefore, we have put it to our members whether they want to continue their dispute by further strike action or by arbitration.
“We shall find out at lunchtime today.”
Members of Balpa working for the airline walked out on a 12-hour strike – the first UK pilots strike for 40 years – on September 8 but further action planned for last Friday was suspended pending the vote on arbitration.