Virgin pilots to strike for first time in history
Virgin Atlantic pilots have voted overwhelming in favour of going out on strike for the first time in the airline’s history.
Strike dates are due to be announced by the British Airline Pilots Association today. The union must give the airline two weeks’ notice of industrial action so the earliest pilots could walk out would be July 6.
As BALPA represents about 85% of Virgin’s 750 pilots, any strike action is likely to seriously disrupt services. A total of 94% took part in the vote, with 97% voting ‘yes’ to industrial action.
The union called for Virgin chairman Sir Richard Branson to wade into the dispute over pilots’ pay, saying it had held off announcing strike dates until tomorrow in the hope that he will intervene.
Pilots have been offered a 4% pay rise this year followed by a 3% rise in 2012 and 2013, which follows a three year pay freeze.
“Pilots at Virgin are saying “enough”, said Jim McAuslan, the union’s general secretary. “We have absolute resolve to secure a fair settlement. When a group professional people say “enough” someone at the top should sit up and listen.
“We do not want to inconvenience the public and hope that Sir Richard will use some of his undoubted Virgin flair to settle this.”
Virgin’s captains are paid around ï¿¡70,000 a year, while first officers receive ï¿¡50,000 a year.
A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic said the airline was disappointed by the result but that talks would continue to try to find a solution.
“We have made an industry leading offer to BALPA that is double the national average for a UK business,” she said.
“We value our pilots enormously and that is why we have offered three guaranteed pay rises in the next two and a half years and a share of company profits.
“We believe that once BALPA communicate this offer to our pilots, industrial action will be averted.”
Virgin said it had contingency plans in place if strikes do go ahead. “We will take every step possible to minimise the impact on our customers.”
By Linsey McNeill
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Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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