Passengers queue to check-in for a Qatar Airways flight in Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport on June 3
(Picture: PA Wire)A planned strike involving British Airways check-in staff at Heathrow airport has been suspended after the company made an improved pay offer, unions said on Thursday.
The Unite union said an agreement had been reached after “extensive negotiations” on Wednesday.
Union members involved in the dispute will now be balloted on the proposed offer, it said.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “We welcome that BA has finally listened to the voice of its check-in staff. Unite has repeatedly warned that pay disputes at BA were inevitable unless the company took our members’ legitimate grievances seriously. I pay tribute to, and stand with, our members who have fought hard to protect their pay.”
Unite regional officer Russ Ball said: “I want to salute the solidarity and bravery of our members, who, through acting in unity, have ensured that a vastly improved offer has been made.
“I am proud to be associated with our check-in members at British Airways.”
The check-in workers voted in June to take industrial action in the pay dispute, saying a 10% wage cut during the height of the pandemic had not been reversed.
Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, said: "All our members were asking for was what they were owed. British Airways finally moving on pay is long overdue.
"It is very clear that workers organising and threatening industrial action is what has delivered.
"All our members - who are predominantly low-paid women - wanted was to be given back the pay cuts BA imposed on them during the pandemic, threatening them with fire and rehire if they said no.
"These are frontline workers facing anger from customers daily. The least they deserved was fair pay.
"The final decision on any next steps will be taken by them."
News that the industrial action is now off will be welcomed by holidaymakers, many of whom were already facing summer travel disruption caused by the mass cancellation of flights due to extreme staff shortages.
A BA statement said: “We are very pleased that, following collaboration with the unions, they have decided not to issue dates for industrial action. This is great news for our customers and our people.”
