Strikes by some British Airways check-in staff at London Heathrow look set to be averted after the airline made an improved pay offer.
Unite, the union representing the employees, said extensive negotiations were held on July 6, 2022, and an agreement was reached, thus suspending the dispute.
“We welcome that BA has finally listened to the voice of its check-in staff,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said in a statement on July 7, 2022. “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.”
The check-in staff were seeking to overturn a 10% pay cut imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unite will now ballot members on the “vastly improved” pay offer from BA.
The news will be a relief for BA and Heathrow, which are already struggling to cope with pent-up demand for travel this summer. Another strike threat looms, however, with plane refuelers at the London hub also voting to strike.
