Virgin Atlantic and Unite have both denied reports that the airline’s cabin crew could strike over the busy Easter holiday season.
Talks are ongoing over pay and allowances between the airline and the union, but both have dismissed recent reports that a strike is on the table.
The Daily Telegraph reported that “angry staff say that under the regime they would have to dip into their own pockets to pay for basic food and drinks at the ‘plush’ hotels booked by the company”.
A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman ruled out any strikes over Easter.
She said: “We’re still in discussions with our crew and the Unite Union regarding pay and allowances. We want to reassure all of our customers that our flying operation will continue as normal over Easter.”
Unite also disputed the report and said there were “a number of inaccuracies” in the Daily Telegraph story and “some misinformed commentary on social media”.
A spokesman said negotiations on the details on the pay claim are still ongoing and once finalised will be put to members in a ballot.
He also said Virgin had offered a pay increase of 3.7% and acknowledged a “steep decline in the value of allowances and a net loss in what cabin crew take home after June”.
Unite said the drop in allowances came from a HMRC audit, and called it a “tax grab”.
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