British pilots have called off a strike following a disagreement about pensions.
Some 33 GMB union members from the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) at West Drayton, near Heathrow, had planned to stage a 48-hour protest over a decision by Balpa to change to their final salary pension scheme. However work has resumed today following talks between the two sides. “I am delighted we have received an offer which I believe will be acceptable to our members,” GMB organiser Dave Kent told the BBC.
Conciliation talks on Tuesday at the TUC failed to find agreement, after GMB members had voted by 85% for strike action.
It accused Balpa of a “disgraceful case of hypocrisy” for seeking to close its final salary pension to new entrants and change pension benefits for existing staff.
The pilots’ union said it was facing a pension deficit of £4.6m and was proposing changes to tackle that problem. It said it offered new employees a “first rate” defined contributions scheme.
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