BA pilots 'prepared to strike'
February 12, 2008The possibility of a strike by British Airways pilots has moved a step closer following a meeting yesterday (February 11).
Hundreds of members of the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) met to discuss the proposals for a strike, with the call for industrial action arising from fears over the effect BA's new OpenSkies subsidiary will have on pilot's working conditions.
The general secretary of the union, Jim McAuslan, claims that BA plans to outsource flying duties for the new service to lower-paid, less well-trained pilots.
"Then the company will use this poorer paid, pilot force as a trojan horse to beat down the pay and conditions of its current pilot employees," he added.
Pilots who are members of the union are currently being balloted on strike action until February 20, but representatives of the organisation claim an industrial stoppage is a strong possibility.
"We have got the vote for strike action," a senior BALPA member told The Daily Mail. "All the indications from representatives are that members are very worried about the future and are supporting the action."
BALPA is expected to reveal the results of the ballot on February 20, with any strike plans announced the next day. It must then legally give BA seven days notice of an intention to take industrial action, meaning that, if it goes ahead, a strike could begin on February 29.
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