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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British Airways staff vote for summer strike at Heathrow
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.
More: Concern BA strike threat will add to ‘travel chaos’ narrative