News / Economy

British Airways crew begin 16-day strike over pay

Saturday, 01 July 2017 3:37 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 01 July 2017 4:45 AM ]

The long and bitter British Airways cabin-crew dispute has intensified, with an unprecedented 16-day strike timed to hit the start of the summer peak on July 1.

British Airways cabin crew have begun an unprecedented 16-day strike at the start of the peak summer travel season amid a long-running dispute over pay and benefits.

Members of BA's "mixed fleet" cabin crew began their strike on Saturday at the start of the peak summer travel season, forcing the national flag-career to use nine Qatar Airways planes to cover its flights.

The crew members have been in conflict with the airline since last year over wages. Unite the Union, the largest trade union in the UK, has described BA wages as "poverty pay."

The average mixed fleet employee earns £16,000 ($20,447) annually.

Unite said the walkout, the longest stand-off in the row, is also a response to sanctions on union members involved in previous strikes.

There have been 26 days of strike action so far this year. Unite said that 1,400 mixed fleet members who had been on strike previously had seen bonus payments and travel concessions removed.

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British Airways warned of further “consequences” for those who went on strike.

The industrial action is another blow to the airline's image after thousands of passengers were stranded last month by a computer systems outage caused by a power surge.

"Customers will take a dim view and a great British brand risks being further tarnished. We call on British Airways to drop the threats and drop the sanctions and resolve this long-running dispute," Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said in a statement.

Solicitors Bott & Co said nearly half a million passengers could be affected over the 16-day strike period.

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