Members fight on for pay justice

British Airways’ ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew working on long and short haul flights out of Heathrow Airport will be taking part in a three day strike next week in their dispute over poverty pay, Unite announced today (January 12).

 
The second stoppage running for 72 hours starts at just past midnight on Thursday, January 19,  and follows this week’s strongly supported two day strike which led to the cancellation of scores of flights by British Airways.

 
Warning of continuing and deepening anger, Unite called on British Airways to drop its confrontational stance and start listening to ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew about their legitimate concerns over pay.

 
Low levels of pay at the UK’s national carrier are forcing ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew to take second jobs to make ends meet or turn up to work unfit because they can’t afford to take the day off sick.

“British Airways should be under no illusion about our members’ determination to secure a settlement that addresses their concerns over poverty pay,”  said Unite national officer Oliver Richardson.

 
“They work tirelessly to serve and keep passengers safe, while contributing massively to the success of British Airways and the billions of pounds in profits it makes.

 
“Yet rather than pay them a decent wage for playing a key part in this success, British Airways refuses to talk meaningfully about their legitimate concerns over poverty pay,” he added.

 
“Seeking to squeeze ever more from cabin crew and making passengers pay for services which were once complementary is a sad state of affairs for an airline which once described itself as the ‘world’s favourite’.

 
“We would urge British Airways to avoid the inconvenience and disruption of industrial action by meaningfully addressing levels of poverty pay which are causing financial worry and distress to ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew.”

 
Over 800 cabin crew from British Airways’ ‘mixed fleet’ have joined Unite since the start of the dispute over poverty pay, taking the union’s membership to over 2,900.

 
Since 2010, all British Airways new cabin crew employees join what is called ‘mixed fleet’, where despite promises that pay would be 10 per cent above the market rate, basic pay starts at just £12,192 with £3 an hour flying pay. Unite estimates that on average ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew earn £16,000, including allowances, a year.