Thousands of British Airways staff will receive a staged pay rise averaging 13% by the end of the year, according to union leaders.
The increased pay offer arose after Unite backed industrial action for check-in staff this summer and a deal for them was agreed after “tough negotiations”.
Although the deal was overwhelmingly backed by BA staff, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said BA still has “a long way to go to restore the trust and confidence” of its workforce.
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The pay agreement “goes some way” to restore rewards to pre-pandemic levels, she added.
It is thought to apply to about 16,000 workers, including cabin crew, engineers and baggage handlers, restoring pay to pre-pandemic levels.
The deal will see workers receive a lump sum worth 5% of their wages this month, a consolidated 5% increase in September and a further 3% consolidated rise in December.
In total, the newly agreed deal is worth 13% on average for BA staff, according to the union.
The agreement came ahead of official figures were released today (Tuesday) showing that regular pay fell at the sharpest rate on record between April and June.
Wages – when taking into account rising prices – dropped by 3% on the year, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Graham said: “By standing strong with Unite, our members have compelled BA to table a pay rise that goes toward compensating for the pay cuts suffered during the pandemic.
“There is still some way to go for workers at BA to trust this company again, given the hostile manner they conducted themselves during the pandemic.
Unite national officer Oliver Richardson added: “Like most other workers, our members in BA are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
“This additional pay uplift secured by the union, will immediately help offset the significant financial pressure they are facing.”
A BA spokesperson said: “We’re pleased with this outcome”.