British Airways pilots to vote on deal over job and pay cuts row

Union says ‘hugely disappointing’ nearly 300 jobs still to be axed despite three-month negotiations

Union officials have reached a deal with British Airways’ management and have opened a consultation among pilots to vote on a job protection package.

The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) said it is recommending that its 4,300 members accept the new package, which includes pay cuts starting at 20 per cent and around 270 “compulsory redundancies”. The union expects voluntary mitigation measures to continue to reduce this number.

The deal was reached after three months of negotiations with BA, following the airline’s proposals earlier this year to cut 1,255 pilot jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which has decimated the air travel industry.

Initial proposals also included a “fire and rehire” policy, which would involve firing thousands of staff and potentially rehiring them at a lower position. Last week, the airline reportedly began carrying out the policy among its cabin crew, who were served notices to accept an enhanced redundancy package or risk losing it.

The new package negotiated by Balpa includes voluntary redundancy deals, a holding pool of 300 pilots remaining employed but on reduced pay, who will be ready to return to work as demand for air travel picks up again, and axing the “fire and rehire” proposal.

Brian Strutton, general secretary of Balpa, said: “It is hugely disappointing that during our extensive negotiations, British Airways would not accept the full package of mitigations we put forward which would have avoided any job losses at all, and at no cost to BA.

“As a result, there will be some compulsory redundancies amongst the pilot community and that is a matter of huge regret. Given BA’s intransigence, we have put together the best package we can to save as many jobs as possible.”

BA pilots have until next Thursday to vote on the package.

A BA spokesperson said in a statement: “We have reached an agreement with our pilots’ union, Balpa, and confirm Balpa is now balloting its members.

“We know this has been an incredibly difficult time for our pilot community, and we would like to thank Balpa’s representatives for their hard work and tireless effort to engage and find solutions to save as many pilot jobs as possible.”

The International Airlines Group, which owns BA, welcomed the news.