Pilots at Virgin vote for first ever strike
VIRGIN Atlantic pilots voted in favour of a strike over pay yesterday, although union members said no date for industrial action had been set because they still hope an agreement can be reached.
“With no pay increase since 2008, a below-inflation offer for 2011 and proposals for 2012 and 2013 that will be sub-inflation this is now a six-year attack on living standards which has not happened in any other UK airline. Pilots at Virgin are saying ‘enough’,” pilots union Balpa said.
The statement added that Balpa hoped Sir Richard Branson (pictured), whose Virgin Group owns a majority stake in the airline, would meet to resolve the dispute.
Balpa said 97 per cent voted for strike action in the ballot and noted that there had been no UK pilot strike for 32 years.
Virgin said it had offered pilots pay rises over 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,” the airline said.