British Airways staff threaten summer strike

British Airways check-in staff are threatening to strike at the height of summer as unions seize on travel chaos to ram through a new pay deal.

Bosses at Unite, the trade union, say check-in staff have missed out on pay rises that bring wages in line with pre-pandemic levels.

BA has restored management pay to pre-crisis levels, but the airline is refusing to reverse a 10pc cut imposed on blue collar workers during the pandemic, it is claimed.

Some 500 staff will be balloted between June 7 and June 27 ahead of a potential walkout targeted to cause maximum disruption during the summer holidays.

The row comes as long queues stretch out of terminal buildings this half-term as airports and ground handling crews grapple with increased demand following the relaxation of Covid travel restrictions earlier this year.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “A strike by our members will make an immediate impact on the service to customers so I urge BA to get a grip and restore these workers’ pay immediately.

“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.”

British Airways has been contacted for comment.

It follows the escalation of a row between BA and its pilots. The Telegraph revealed over the weekend that pilots are facing a 9pc salary cut next year under a pay deal agreed at the height of the pandemic and designed to fund salaries for staff left out of work.

Frustration is growing among pilots and ground crew as the UK flag carrier promises a return to profitability and a sharp rise in boardroom pay at parent company IAG.

Pilots did agree to the salary sacrifice scheme to reduce the number of compulsory redundancies, however.

Martin Chalk, general secretary of pilots union Balpa said this weekend: “As executives and shareholders consider tucking in their napkins prior to dipping their snouts back into the bonus and dividend troughs, pilots warn that they will, through their union Balpa, insist full salaries and conditions are reinstated and their sacrifices are properly recognised.”  

Unite today warned BA customers that they could face major disruption if industrial action goes ahead.

Unite regional officer Russ Ball said: “British Airways has had every opportunity to resolve this dispute through negotiations but has decided not to do so. Our members are therefore balloting for industrial action as a last resort.

“Strike action and the accompanying disruption can be avoided by BA returning to negotiations and restoring our members’ pay rates to pre-pandemic levels.”