LAST MINUTE
British Airways is preparing to live a complicated week. After the airline refused to resume negotiations with the Balpa trade union, the pilots planned to disengage on Monday and Tuesday, as well as on 27 September due to a dispute over wages. The iconic British company, which belongs to the airline group IAG, could face the worst strike in its history, which would affect more than 90% of its 4,300 pilots.
According to Balpa, this will be the first time that the pilots of the iconic airline go on strike. Result, 1,600 flights may be canceled next week, blocking thousands of travelers, according to local press. Thursday evening, British Airways rejected a last minute offer tabled by the union Balpa who proposed to waive the strike if the company returned to the negotiating table. "We remain open to constructive discussions with Balpa to bring wage negotiations to a successful conclusion, but we do not think the union is showing good will by asking more at the last minute with a proposal that would cost 50 million more pounds" , says British Airways.
Hardening of the conflict
In response, Brian Strutton, secretary general of Balpa, said that "British Airways deliberately chooses to ensure that strikes take place." He disputes the company's cost estimate, claiming that it is only 5 million pounds more than BA offers in the negotiations. "A strike day will cost the company 40 million pounds and yet they seem happy to spend money because of this strike rather than for their pilots," said Strutton.
Worried about a tougher conflict, Downing Street called for talks to resume. "Unions and British Airways have to sit down and find a solution, the public expects nothing less," said a spokesman for the British executive. The British company is not alone in facing a strike by its pilots. Some of those from Ryanair in the UK have announced that they will continue to move in September even though the disruption has so far been very limited.
In France, Air France was bogged down in months of conflict with its pilots on wages in 2018, marked by many days of strike, before an agreement was reached last October.