British Airways passengers were warned of "major delays" as workers were balloted over a potential pay strike.
BA check-in staff at Heathrow airport, who are employed in the company’s ‘A scales division’, said the company has refused to reverse a 10% pay cut imposed on them during the pandemic, even though management pay has been restored to pre-pandemic levels.
The industrial action ballot covers around 500 staff and is expected to close on Monday 27 June, trade union Unite said, with the result potentially leading to strikes in July, just as families prepare to go on summer holidays.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “British Airways used the cover of Covid to brutally cut members’ pay. BA has now reversed the pay cuts imposed on management but refuses to do this for our members. This is disgraceful. Unite will not allow our members to be treated as a second-class workforce.
“Our members are rightly furious and ready to take action. A strike by our members will make an immediate impact on the service to customers so I urge BA to get a grip and restore these workers’ pay immediately.
“Unite will be giving its members the union’s complete support until this dispute is resolved.”
The union also said is undertaking a consultative ballot of a separate group of BA’s check in staff over pay, saying BA has had "every opportunity to resolve this dispute through negotiations but has decided not to do so. Our members are therefore balloting for industrial action as a last resort".
“Strike action and the accompanying disruption can be avoided by BA returning to negotiations and restoring our members’ pay rates to pre-pandemic levels.”
Shares in BA owner International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (LSE:IAG) were down 4% at 129.70p, 18% lower in the year to date and down 37% over 12 months.