LONDON—Pilots at Virgin Atlantic have voted to hold strike balloting, saying they face fatigue and well-being problems by continuing to adhere to duty rosters introduced to allow the airline to survive during the pandemic.
The company said Aug. 7 it was “ready to commence pay and lifestyle discussions now with our pilot union representatives on the topics that are important to all of us.”
The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) said its members “have registered a trade dispute with Virgin Atlantic arising out of serious concerns relating to pilot fatigue and well-being around scheduling and rostering arrangements, implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In a recent ballot to gauge the depth of feeling about this issue, 96% favored taking a strike vote. This was based on a turnout of 81% of BALPA members.
“It’s clear Virgin Atlantic pilots feel very strongly about this,” BALPA said. “BALPA prefers to address matters constructively through negotiation and industrial compromise and will only countenance industrial action as a last resort. We remain ready to commence negotiations to find an acceptable way forward and urge Virgin Atlantic to listen to its staff and put forward an acceptable offer that our members could support.”
A spokesman for the UK-based long-haul carrier said the health, security, and safety of its staff and customers remains its highest priority. “We operate a comprehensive, data-driven, fatigue risk management system with regulatory oversight, operating well above industry standards,” he said. “We carefully analyze and manage working and fatigue levels to ensure the well-being of our pilots and the safety of our operations at all times. Our pilots only fly when they are fit to fly. It is their duty as well as ours. Virgin Atlantic is one of the safest airlines in the industry and we will defend our reputation fiercely.”
Virgin Atlantic said it underwent a radical transformation as a result of the impact of COVID-19. “This was fundamental to our survival and our steadfast commitment to returning to sustainable profitability,” the airline said. “Our pilots ... play a pivotal role in the success of our operation. We currently have an existing pay and lifestyle agreement in place until the end of 2023 that was agreed, developed, and supported by BALPA’s pilot representatives within Virgin Atlantic and our pilot community.”
The company intends to start pay and lifestyle negotiations with pilot representatives following the end of the peak summer holiday season, “well in advance of the agreement expiring in December,” the airline said. “We look forward engaging in healthy discussion with our pilots on the topics that matter to all of us.”
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