Balpa, the UK pilots’ union, has warned that a dispute over pension reform at UK flag carrier British Airways has soured its relationship with management, increasing the chances of a ballot on industrial action, according to the Financial Times. Two pilots’ meetings this week revealed strong opposition to BA’s proposal to raise the retirement age for flight crew from 55 to 65, said the report, which cited Jim McAuslan, general secretary of Balpa.

Balpa, along with TGWU, Amicus and GMB, have been in talks with BA since early this year, but the unions have stated there is still ‘some distance’ between them and the company.

‘It’s approaching crunch time. The feeling is that members will need to take industrial action,’ McAuslan was quoted as saying.
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