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17/08/2004
BA tables new offer in pay dispute
BA has tabled a new offer in negotiations with unions who are threatening strike action during the busy August bank holiday in a dispute over pay.
According to the airline, staff will earn an extra £1,000 if they are absent from work no more than 16 days in a two-year period – in addition to the offer of an 8.5% pay increase over three years, with the first 2.5% backdated to October 1 last year.
British Airways employees currently have an annual average of 17 days absence from work. The UK national average is seven days per employee a year, the airline said.
If there is no resolution to negotiations, the GMB union said yesterday today that 24-hour strikes effecting Heathrow and Gatwick could begin at 4.30am on either August 27, 28, 29, or 30.
Mike Street, director of customer service and operations, said today: “The unions have been asking us for 14.5% over three years. This offer meets that claim.
“The unions asked us to consider an incentive scheme to help tackle our absence issue and we believe this is an innovative way to reward staff with reasonable attendance records.
“As a result, we are asking the unions to ballot their members on this new offer.
“We remain hopeful of finding a resolution and are determined our customers should not be the ones to suffer."
Tackling high absence is part of BA's £300 million employee cost saving target announced earlier this year. BA has estimated that absenteeism costs the company at least £60 million a year.
The TGWU, which is currently balloting its 8,325 BA staff members, is expected to reveal the results of its strike vote on Thursday.
TGWU members are involved in ground services, plus check-in, sales and admin at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.
(gmcg)
According to the airline, staff will earn an extra £1,000 if they are absent from work no more than 16 days in a two-year period – in addition to the offer of an 8.5% pay increase over three years, with the first 2.5% backdated to October 1 last year.
British Airways employees currently have an annual average of 17 days absence from work. The UK national average is seven days per employee a year, the airline said.
If there is no resolution to negotiations, the GMB union said yesterday today that 24-hour strikes effecting Heathrow and Gatwick could begin at 4.30am on either August 27, 28, 29, or 30.
Mike Street, director of customer service and operations, said today: “The unions have been asking us for 14.5% over three years. This offer meets that claim.
“The unions asked us to consider an incentive scheme to help tackle our absence issue and we believe this is an innovative way to reward staff with reasonable attendance records.
“As a result, we are asking the unions to ballot their members on this new offer.
“We remain hopeful of finding a resolution and are determined our customers should not be the ones to suffer."
Tackling high absence is part of BA's £300 million employee cost saving target announced earlier this year. BA has estimated that absenteeism costs the company at least £60 million a year.
The TGWU, which is currently balloting its 8,325 BA staff members, is expected to reveal the results of its strike vote on Thursday.
TGWU members are involved in ground services, plus check-in, sales and admin at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.
(gmcg)
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21 August 2008
Bank Holiday Airport Strikes Called Off
A series of strikes by baggage handlers at Stansted, Gatwick and Manchester airports have been called off . The planned cessation of ground staff operations was halted after talks between the GMB and Unite Unions and employers Swissport. Strikes at Gatwick and Stanstead, both operated by Ferrovial's BAA, were planned for August 25 and 29.
Bank Holiday Airport Strikes Called Off
A series of strikes by baggage handlers at Stansted, Gatwick and Manchester airports have been called off . The planned cessation of ground staff operations was halted after talks between the GMB and Unite Unions and employers Swissport. Strikes at Gatwick and Stanstead, both operated by Ferrovial's BAA, were planned for August 25 and 29.
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