.png)
.png)
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
Virgin Atlantic and pilots’ union reach deal to avoid strikes
Virgin Atlantic and a union representing its pilots yesterday reached a deal in a bid to avoid a strike by the pilots.
www.marketwatch.com reports the two parties reached a deal to avoid a strike by the pilots, which would have been the first one in Virgin Atlantic’s 27-year history. The offer will now be circulated amongst the pilota and put to vote before the terms are disclosed.
“Pilots have never wished to inconvenience the traveling public, especially those looking forward to summer holidays,” said British Airline Pilots' Association General Secretary Jim McAuslan. “We have, therefore, lifted the threat of strike action.”
The union previously had said Virgin Atlantic was offering pilots a pay increase this year of 4%, with a 3% rise next year and 3% in 2013.
Virgin Atlantic and its pilots have been at odds since 2010 over pay and conditions. Negotiations have continued since November. Balpa represents over 85% of Virgin Atlantic's 750 pilots.
Virgin Atlantic said: “We can confirm that negotiations are now concluded and Balpa will present a pay offer to its members over the coming weeks. The threat of strike action has now been removed and our flying schedule remains completely unaffected.”
Many airlines have faced the threat of strikes as a result of their attempts to restructure during the downturn. For example, British Airways last year was hit by 22 days of strike action by cabin crew, costing it GBP155 million.
Joseph MELI •
Government take note and these Virgin pilots were all geared up for a spell flying Air Malta planes.Wonder how much Virgin pay BAA in tariffs and charges?
•
Virgin Atlantic dd not reason out as Dottore Austin Gatt suggests. Dottor Gatt suggests if they don't like it they get sacked.
Virgin atlantic did not say if they don't like it how it is go elswhere. They know there are alot of pilots wishing to fly for virgin and they know there are 50 redundant experienced pilots in Malta amongst others worlwide but NO they treat their staff properly and accepted their complains.
Then in Malta we see a different situation we saw pilots and airmalta staff taking no increases for these last 4 years when a supposed restructring plan started 4 years ago. Today we have the result of a failed restructuring plan by managers who where either given a golden handshake or kept in their positions and Alpa is not fighting for a pay rise but fighting fr job security as it always stated that if contracts with third parties remain as they are everyone will become redundant and no one can save the airline.
Where where MHRA when virgin pilots threatened strike or when british airways treathened strikes even these cause incertainity towards movement of tourists which malta benefits from.
Learn Dr Gatt that arogance and head headidness leads to nowhere but your attitude led you to a 500 euro wage weekly and a pension WOW before reaching age of 70 if ever you reach it and benefit from it.
Only in Malta we see all groups comdemning actions for right of work and good management. Only in Malta we spend millions in a transport reform leading to a fiasco and no one in the ministerial benches is shouldering responsibility for all the fiascos and bad debts throught 30 years of mismanagement.
GONZI and EFA of paper placed us within the EU but their holding to position and wages before the intrests of the country is far away from EU attitude.
Be gentlemen resign Dr Gatt and you DR Gonzi give the leadership of this country to a competent person either by resigning from PM and have another Minister from your own cabinet fix your fiasco or call an election.
The sooner you leave the better. Am sure if Dalli had won the leadership he would ave made a better PM than ths Gonzi good to stay in his office under the air conditioner only and he does that because we ay his bills.
