Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured a significant pay increase for around 24,000 staff employed by British Airways.

Large pay increase

The workforce (excluding pilots and management) will receive a pay increase worth 13.1 per cent over an 18-month period, as well as a £1,000 one off payment. Unite has also built into the deal the potential for pay to increase further during this period if inflation remains high.

In addition to the pay increase, Unite has secured agreement that no member of staff will have the pay increase applied at a lower rate of pay then they were receiving in 2020.

This agreement reverses BA’s highly controversial decision at the height of the Covid pandemic to fire and rehire its entire workforce, with many workers suffering substantial pay cuts. Put simply, this both restores and increases pay.

Fire and rehire reversed

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a sizable pay increase which has been achieved by the hard work and dedication of the union’s reps and officers, hammered out in detailed negotiations.

“The fact that Unite has reversed the fire and rehire cuts while also securing a large increase in pay, underlines how the union’s relentless focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of members, is delivering for workers financially.”

Other increases

As well as the overall pay increase, Unite has also negotiated “milestone reviews” and additional increases for specific groups of workers at the company.

Unite balloted its members at British Airways on the offer and it was overwhelmingly accepted.

Aviation pay

Unite national co-ordinating officer Oliver Richardson said: “The British Airways deal is the latest evidence of how Unite is securing significant pay increases for workers throughout the aviation sector, and as the sector recovers, we are also securing improvements for our members’ terms and conditions.”

ENDS

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.