British Airways cabin crew voted by a 76% majority to accept a new pay deal negotiated at the end of January.
The British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (Bassa), a branch of the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G), recommended the deal following meetings involving T&G general secretary Tony Woodley and BA chief executive Willie Walsh.
It means that 11,000 cabin crew approves an 18.75% rise in their pensionable pay figure and accepted changes to aid a £2.1bn deficit on the BA New Airlines Pension Scheme.
Key points of the deal included:
- A two-year pay deal, including an above inflation 4.6% increase in the first year from 1 February
- Increase in pay for pension purposes by 18.75%
- New pay rates to bridge the gap between the pre- and post-1997 grades with four new incremental steps
- A new joint approach to the sickness absence policy, which reflects the particular pressures on cabin crew
- 900-hour maximum flying time per year
- The BA chief executive commits to meeting with the Bassa senior representatives on a quarterly basis
Jack Dromey, T&G deputy general secretary, said the result was good for members, BA and the travelling public. “The new era of respect for cabin crew is established and we welcome the direct involvement cabin crew representatives will now have with Willie Walsh,” he said.
BA cabin crew initially voted for strike action in January.
