LONDON 23 Jul (ANA) - A summer of disruption for holidaymakers moved a step closer yesterday after British Airways pilots voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, saying that the airline had refused to change its position despite three days of intense negotiations.

 

Ninety-three per cent of the 4,000 BA pilots who are members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) backed action on a turnout of 90 per cent over a pay dispute. About 500 BA pilots are not members of the union. Strike dates have yet to be announced by the union, which must give two weeks’ notice before taking action.

 

The airline responded by seeking an injunction in the high court today to prevent any strike action. Negotiations between the two sides are suspended because of BA’s legal move, although Balpa said that it would be open to further talks. If the airline fails to get an injunction, strike action could take place from August 6.

 

The potential pilots’ strike is the latest in a series of industrial actions affecting flights over the summer.

 

It may coincide with a series of strikes at Heathrow by Unite union members over a pay dispute for 4,000 workers including security guards, engineers and passenger service staff. Easyjet staff at Stansted are expected to walk out in a separate dispute, while workers at Gatwick are balloting for industrial action. Ryanair pilots are due to ballot on strike action this week.

 

The Heathrow Unite workers’ strikes will take place on Friday and Saturday, a week after the start of the school holidays. More strikes will be held on August 5, 6, 23 and 24.

 

Brian Strutton, Balpa’s general secretary, said that the pilots did not want to “inconvenience our customers” and had been trying to resolve the dispute since November.

 

He added: “This strong result demonstrates the resolve of BA pilots and shows BA that it must table a sensible improved offer if a strike is to be averted. Sadly three days of Acas talks have not moved the company’s position one iota. Settlement of this dispute is in BA’s hands.”

 

The dispute is over a pay increase worth 11.5 per cent over three years, which the airline says is “fair and generous”. Balpa says that as the airline is no longer in a fight for survival — its owner, IAG, made a € 2.9 billion profit last year, up from € 2 billion in 2017 — the pilots deserve a better deal.

 

British Airways contributed £ 1.96 billion profit to its parent, which also owns Iberia and Aer Lingus, up 8.7 per cent on 2017. Investors in the company received a total dividend payout of €1.3 billion. Willie Walsh, 57, IAG’s chief executive, received a total pay package of £ 3 million last year, while Alex Cruz, 52, BA’s chief executive, was paid £ 1.36 million in 2017.

 

The union said the cost to BA to settle the dispute is “significantly” less than the cost of a single day’s strike action.

 

The airline, which carries as many as 145,000 passengers per day, said: “We are very disappointed that Balpa has chosen to threaten the travel plans of thousands of our customers . . . We continue to pursue every avenue to find a solution to protect our customers’ travel plans and avoid industrial action.”(ANA)

FA/ANA/23 July 2019--------