The union representing around 30% of Virgin Atlantic’s pilots has planned more dates for strike action in 2019.
The Professional Pilots’ Union, which has 400 members and was formed in 2011, has also approached arbitration service ACAS in a bid to avoid the industrial action taking place.
On Friday, it announced its 304 Virgin Atlantic members would be striking over the Christmas and New Year season. Virgin Atlantic said it did not expect any disruption to its schedule as a result.
The industrial action is over the airline’s stance that it will not include the PPU in talks over pay and benefits changes. Virgin includes its recognised pilots’ union, BALPA, in the talks.
The 2019 dates, which would be four days long each, have been pencilled in by the PPU but the union says they will be “announced at short notice, meaning more holiday travel plans and business trips into are likely to be affected”.
Spokesman Steve Johnson said: “We have not heard from Virgin Atlantic directly, but note from their short statements to the media that they believe there will be no disruption to flights. With a third (304) of VA’s active pilots PPU members not available to fly, that’s difficult to believe (see editor’s notes below),” he said.
“However, it exposes the ridiculous position of VA management in this dispute – the company appears willing to spend a huge amount of money to mitigate our action, yet they could simply talk to us for free, avoid passenger disruption, and all the damage that will do to the company and its relationship with customers and pilots.
“The PPU are an established, professional and registered union. We represent a large number of pilots who will not be ignored any longer. The resistance by VA management to recognise us and include our people in negotiations over huge changes to their terms and conditions smacks of the unacceptable belligerence everyone has witnessed at some low cost operators.
“I do hope Mr Branson is watching this situation in his airline going from bad to worse. It contrasts with his recruitment slogan, where he says: ‘Treat your staff well and they will look after your customers. It’s as simple as that’.
“Our message to Mr Branson and his CEO Craig Kreeger is that our pilots are certainly not feeling very well treated, and his customers will be the ones suffering as a result.”
Stoppages are already planned for December 22 to 25; December 30 to January 2; and January 4 to January 7.
More: Virgin Atlantic pilots to strike over Christmas