Trade unions are balloting British Airways check-in staff at Heathrow over potential strike action which could take place at the start of the peak summer period in July.
The ballots from the Unite and GMB unions are taking place in a dispute over pay within the airline’s ‘A scales division’.
In a statement, Unite said British Airways had restored management pay to pre-pandemic levels but had refused to reverse a 10% pay cut imposed on its members during the pandemic.
The Unite ballot covers about 500 staff and will run from June 7 to June 27, meaning any industrial action is likely to take place the following month.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary said: “British Airways used the cover of Covid to brutally cut members’ pay. BA has now reversed the pay cuts imposed on management but refuses to do this for our members. This is disgraceful. Unite will not allow our members to be treated as a second-class workforce.
“Our members are rightly furious and ready to take action. A strike will make an immediate impact on the service to customers so I urge BA to get a grip and restore these workers’ pay immediately.
“Unite will be giving its members the union’s complete support until this dispute is resolved.”
In addition to the full ballot, Unite is also undertaking a consultative ballot with a separate group of British Airways check-in staff over possible strikes.
A British Airways spokesperson said: “We have received notification that some of our customer service colleagues will be participating in a ballot for industrial action. This is extremely disappointing.
“After a deeply difficult two years which saw the airline lose more than four billion pounds, these colleagues were offered a 10% payment for this year which was rejected. Other parts of the organisation accepted the same offer acknowledging the position the business still finds itself in.
“We remain fully committed to talks with our trade unions about their concerns and we hope that together we can find a way to reach an agreement in the best interests of our people and our customers.”
Photo: Nick Morrish/British Airways