Members of the Prospect union working at the Civil Aviation Authority have voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay.
Industrial action was supported by 67% of those who voted in an official ballot, while 87% backed action short of a strike, according to the union. The turnout was 65%.
A Prospect spokesperson said: “The exact timing and nature of industrial action will be decided in due course.”
The threat in in response to the aviation regulator’s refusal to provide a “fair and affordable” 2023-24 salary increase, according to the union.
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This is the first time a ballot on industrial action has taken place at the CAA.
But only around 240 CAA workers are members of Prospect, just 16% out of a workforce of around 1,500.
Prospect claimed that an internal survey of CAA found that 42% of employees are considering leaving the organisation due to poor pay and reward, excessive workload, lack of recognition and not feeling valued by the organisation.
The union’s general secretary Mike Clancy said: “More than a decade of real terms pay cuts have left our members at the CAA with no choice but to take industrial action.
“During the initial stages of the pandemic they did their part by taking a pay cut to enable their employer to continue to function. This show of good will has not been returned and inadequate pay levels are having a serious impact on recruitment and retention at the CAA.
“The employer can still avert this industrial action by coming back to the table with a meaningful offer that addresses the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. If they do not do so, then the CAA’s status as a world-class aviation regulator is at risk.”
CAA interim chief executive Rob Bishton said: “It is disappointing that some members of the Prospect Union have voted in favour of industrial action.
“We recognise the cost of living challenges that colleagues face, which is why we’ve already implemented a five per cent pay rise, along with a further pay increase for many staff in October. This increase also takes account of the interests of those who pay our charges and public sector pay policy.
“With a modest proportion of the Civil Aviation Authority’s workforce who are members of Prospect, should there be any action by our colleagues, we do not anticipate any disruption to the aviation sector.
“We continue to engage constructively with Prospect.”
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