Air Transport

British Airways cabin crew will receive a 4.6% pay rise as part of a last-minute agreement reached between management and the Transport and General Workers’ (T&G) union to avert a series of planned strikes.

Cabin crew had been preparing for a 48h strike this week and two 72h strikes next month.

However, yesterday the two sides reached a settlement BA says includes a two-year pay deal that will give cabin crew a salary increase in line with inflation (4.4%) plus 0.2% in the first year, and in line with inflation in year two. The first year’s pay rise will go into effect on 1 February; the second increase will follow a year later.

BA has also agreed to change its policy on employee absence, and will replace one purser onboard its Boeing 747-400s with a main cabin crew member from this September.

The airline and the T&G have also agreed to work on improving their relations. “Both parties recognise that a fresh start is needed to the relationship and work will begin on developing a constructive and professional relationship,” says BA.

The carrier, which had been preparing to cancel a large number of its flights today, says it is expecting to operate a full flying schedule.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh says: “We have always said that our cabin crew do an excellent job and we believe this agreement lays a firm foundation to enable us to provide even higher standards of on board service for customers in the future.”

“Unfortunately, the decision has come too late to prevent disruption to the travel plans of tens of thousands of our customers.”

Blog:
Read Kieran Daly's view on how the winer of this battle is undeniably BA chief executive Willie Walsh