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I saw the headline from The Times, Virgin Atlantic faces strike threat from pilots.
But I can’t find out more as it’s behind a Paywall and a Google search doesn’t bring up the same information from anywhere else.
Does anyone know the details?
In summary, The Times is reporting that BALPA has “serious concerns relating to pilot fatigue and wellbeing around scheduling and rostering arrangements”. 96% of members (it isn’t clear if that’s BALPA at VS members, or all BALPA members) voted in favour of being formally balloted for strike action. The maximum number of hours a pilot can fly is 900 annually, with VS pilots apparently doing 750 on average (which, I assume, is either higher than elsewhere, or the same, for less pay).
BALPA want VS to reverse changes made during the pandemic, which helped return VS to profitability but had negative connotations for crew. The deal that BALPA struck with VS during the pandemic expires this December, so they obviously want to get back around the negotiating table.
There is some additional tension caused due to CEO pay (Weiss taking £3m+ vs Doyle at BA on £1.5m+), but I think that’s probably superfluous to the point and seems like The Times trying to stoke the fire in this context. I imagine that this is coming out now, too, given the BALPA at BA talks going on, and the recent Unite crew deal.
What is the maximum number of hours a pilot can fly per sector?
I found this via a google search for “Virgin Atlantic pilots strike”
https://www.cityam.com/virgin-atlantic-pilot-strike-action-up-in-the-air-amid-fatigue-row/
There hasn’t even been a formal ballot yet so any action (should it even happen) is still some way off.
Strike ballots are used to pressurise management to address issues so that strikes don’t happen.
@Al that 96% would be only VS pilots not all BALPA members.Reading the bbc article it does seem like early days to be talking about a strike – looks like the union just setting out it’s negotiating position early on before talks even start about the contracts.
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