Summary
- UK union Unite secures a 13.1% pay rise for twenty-four,000 British Airways employees, reversing previous pay cuts throughout the pandemic.
- The deal ensures that no employees will receive a pay rise lower than their 2020 rate, potentially leading to a different rise if inflation stays high.
- Unite’s success in securing the pay increase highlights its deal with improving the roles, pay, and conditions of its members within the aviation sector.
United Kingdom-based union Unite has announced that 24,000 British Airways employees have secured a 13.1% pay rise over a period of 18 months. These staff members of the British flag carrier have also earned a £1,000 ($1,270) one-time payment.
Covering ground
Unite expresses that it has managed to reverse what it calls “fire and rehire” pay cuts throughout the height of the pandemic that saw several employees’ salaries drop. Thus, staff, excluding flight crew and management, will now receive a pay increase amid an agreement that might even see one other rise if inflation stays high.
Photo: British Airways
The deal will even make sure that no employees may have their pay rise applied at a lower rate than what they were at in 2020. All in all, the move each restores and boosts pay.
Word from the Unite
Unite was formed in 2007 following the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Employees’ Union (TGWU). It has over 1.2 million members spanning several industries, including transport.
The union has a protracted history of helping British Airways staff. Notably, in 2009, it represented 12,000 cabin crew members amid the airline’s announcement that it will cut 1,700 jobs.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham shared the next concerning the 13.1% pay rise in a press release:
Unite national co-ordinating officer Oliver Richardson added:
“The British Airways deal is the most recent evidence of how Unite is securing significant pay increases for employees throughout the aviation sector, and because the sector recovers, we’re also securing improvements for our members’ terms and conditions.”
Tense times
It has been a vital few weeks for UK unions concerning pay deals. Late last month, strikes were called off and London Gatwick Airport as employees voted to simply accept a brand new pay deal. The move helped hundreds of passengers avoid disruptions this summer.
Photo: Ceri Breeze/Shutterstock
British Airways’ fellow IAG carrier, Aer Lingus, has also been busy coping with unions. Pilots at Emerald Airlines, the airline operating Aer Lingus Regional, this week paused strike plans to debate a dispute over a collective labor agreement.
BA will likely be heavily counting on its staff amid its current ramp-up phase. It just confirmed that it’s adding 4 latest short-haul routes from London Heathrow. This announcement is on the back of its scaling up of short-haul operations from Gatwick.
Altogether, the securement of the pay deal will undoubtedly help avoid potential operational challenges. The European aviation market will likely be hoping for more solutions across the continent amid strike motion across the industry.
What are your thoughts on this pay deal? What do you make of the general move? Tell us what you think that of its prospects within the comment section.