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From The Times

February 21, 2008

Threat of BA strike recedes despite pilot vote

Times Online and Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent of The Times

The threat of a strike by British Airways pilots over the Easter holiday period appeared today to have receded despite confirmation that BA pilots had voted by an overwhelming margin for stoppages in a row over pay and conditions.

The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) announced that 86 per cent of its members at BA had backed strike action in a dispute over the company's new subsidiary carrier Open Skies.

The union claims that pilots in the new airline will earn less and work under worse conditions, charges which BA deny.

Within three hours, however, and before any strike dates were named, the two sides agreed to take the issue to a "conciliation process with an independent third party".

"The decision was reached at a positive meeting between BA and Balpa at the airline’s headquarters near Heathrow. Both sides expressed their strong desire to achieve a peaceful outcome," BA and Balpa said in a joint statement.

BA's 3,000 pilots are up in arms over the company’s plan to create a subsidiary airline with cheaper operating costs. Balpa is concerned that Open Skies pilots could be used to reduce the pay and conditions of flight crew at the main airline.

The new airline is supposed to start flying between continental cities and the United States this summer.

Despite the strike vote, Balpa backed off from naming any strike dates, realising that BA would immediately lose millions of pounds in bookings if it did so.

Jim McAuslan, the Balpa general secretary, said: ‘The ballot result shows the strength of feeling of our members about the implications of the creation of OpenSkies.

‘We have no quarrel with the travelling public and have always maintained that these issues could be resolved through negotiation rather than confrontation.’

Willie Walsh, British Airways chief executive, said that the airline was proud of the professionalism and reputation of its pilots and had never sought conflict with them.

"We welcome the progress made today and are confident that a settlement can be achieved through conciliation which will protect our customers from the possibility of disruption," Mr Walsh said.

These overpaid BA pilots have no right to dictate to a company what their pilots are paid.
The new company is a seperate buisness. It's nothing to do with the BA pilots.

If BA pilots are not happy, why don't they just leave?
Get another job. Ooops, nobody will pay them more.

Replace the right to strike with the right to resign.
They already have the right to resign, so remove the right to strike.

Mark, London, UK

BA pilots and cabin crews are the best in the world they are badly let down by the BAA which run heathrow etc.profit before service

john grime, windsor, u.k

They created a subsidary airline called Go in 2001. they later sold it to Easy Jet.....when they thought no one wanted to pay less for a ticket .....doh!!!!!

Do they really take the cream of the graduate crop for their managers???????????

Luke, London, UK

From what I hear, it's about pilot job security. As I understand it, if BA management get their way the pilots could be forced to sign contracts which will reduce their pay and conditions in as little as 5 years. Does that sound fair to you? think about what you would do when your employer tells you that they will effectively 'out-source' you unless you comply!

Additionally, what is the obsession with the uk public on wanting cheaper and cheaper pilots? (because that is what people will say!) From my experience good salaries will attract good, capable pilots. Would you really like to climb aboard an aircraft knowing that the pilots are the cheapest for the airline? and thus all the clever, talented people have left to pursue other careers? I know some will say 'cheap doesn't mean lower standards' but I put to you the fact that less capable and less experienced pilots will pay over the odds just to get a licence (ie with lots of extra training!) Flying a modern jet is difficult.

Sunny smith, surrey,

Thing is, if BA pilots strike, will anyone notice the difference?

Mike Mitchell, Spalding, England

Well thank heavens I'm flying Air New Zealand.

Ian Burgess, Bristol,

Presumably their baggage has been misplaced as well and being so poorly paid they are unable to fund any clothing replacements and are withdrawing their labour until it is found.

J Spencer, York,

Why dont they release the planned dates! Iv got booked flights in march with BA...knew i should have gone with virgin!

B.Wilson, Winchester,

I have to agree if amercians would stop driving 700 leiter engines then mabye the might be some fuel left for the rest of us, I live in fuel poverty alone off my diesel bill to get to work and back.

If yanks would stop driving SUV's and driver normal cars liek teh rest of us do there would be enought fuel to go round but instead you brun thought it all, and whats worse you dont use central heating instead having diesel boilers and wasting even more fuel!

Mr W Jones, Liverpool, England

As ex- BA crew myself I say good for the pilots. BA has been trying to erode the conditions of its workforce and the service it gives to passengers ever since Willie Walsh took charge. They plead economic pressures which is not true and try to cut as many corners as possible. It's about time customers voted with their feet and the board got a new CEO.

ex-crew, London,

What a pathetic apology for a so-called national airline. One of the worst airlines in the world for losing baggage, so incompetent yesterday they expected paying pasengers to fly out of terminal four yesterday without suitcases, and now so bogged down with a looming industrial dispute that they can't even guarantee a flight schedule. I'm fed up by seeing huge queues of paying passengers standing around in tents. My company does not need its margins dented by such incompetence and uncertainty. I shall immediately be ensuring my employees are switched to flights on alternate carriers that understand the true meaning of service. I sincerely hope that both BA and its pilots get what they so richly deserve.

CEO, London,

Funnily enough, Mr Tim, it is not the "Gov'mnt" soaking passengers, it is the airlines. They have to pay a lot for fuel due to the fact that it is an ever-diminishing resource as it has been wasted so selfishly by those living in the USA.

James, TWICKENHAM, UK

You Brits are getting 'soaked' by your Gov'mnt on this fuel tax of 106 pounds...($216...US)...yes fuel tax, not surcharge....soooo, look for 2flights of 4 1/2 hrs to get you your 9 hr flt....carry on luggage only...you can buy what ever you need enroute..and cheaper.....pack lite=go lite....

Mr Tim, san marcos, U S of A /Ca