British Airways check-in staff strikes scrapped as airline makes ‘vastly improved’ pay offer

According to a statement on the Unite union website, the industrial dispute between British Airways and its check-in staff at Heathrow has been suspended.

The airline has made a “vastly improved” pay offer to staff.

Whilst the offer will be put to a ballot of union members, the union is recommending acceptance. Planned strike action has been suspended.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“We welcome that BA has finally listened to the voice of its check-in staff. Unite has repeatedly warned that pay disputes at BA were inevitable unless the company took our members’ legitimate grievances seriously. I pay tribute to, and stand with, our members who have fought hard to protect their pay.”

Unite regional officer Russ Ball said:

“I want to salute the solidarity and bravery of our members, who, through acting in unity, have ensured that a vastly improved offer has been made. I am proud to be associated with our check-in members at British Airways.”

A BA spokesperson said:

“We are very pleased that, following collaboration with the unions, they have decided not to issue dates for industrial action. This is great news for our customers and our people.”

The strike had been caused by the refusal of the airline to reverse a 10% pay cut which check-in staff had accepted during the pandemic in order to help control cash burn. British Airways management who agreed a similar cut had seen it reversed but this privilege was not extended to rank-and-file workers.

It is not clear if this deal will see the full 10% pay cut reversed (staff will still not have received a pay rise this year, of course) and over what time frame this may happen.

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