Virgin pilots call off strike

Virgin pilots have called off a threatened strike after reaching a last-minute pay deal with the airline.

The pilots had voted to strike for the first time in the airline's history as part of their ongoing dispute with management.

But their union BALPA said yesterday that all industrial action had been called off following the latest offer from the airline bosses, which will be put to pilots in a ballot. The result will be announced in three weeks.

BALPA said details of the offer will only be made public once it has been communicated to members. A spokesman refused to say whether the airline had increase its initial pay offer of  a 4% rise this year and 2% for each of the following two years.

General secretary Jim McAuslan added: "Pilots have never wished to inconvenience the travelling public, especially those looking forward to summer holidays. We have therefore lifted the threat of strike action. Virgin Atlantic pilots will proudly continue their role of flying passengers safely to their destinations."




By Linsey McNeill

Friday, July 8, 2011

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