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Pilots union staff set for strike Pilots' union staff start strike
(1 day later)
Workers employed by the trade union which represents airline pilots are to stage a 24-hour strike after talks over a pensions dispute broke down. Workers employed by the trade union for airline pilots have started a 48-hour strike in a row over pensions.
GMB union members from the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) are protesting at changes to their final salary pension scheme. Some 33 GMB union members from the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) at West Drayton, near Heathrow, walked out from 0600 BST.
Some 33 GMB members who work at Balpa offices in West Drayton, near Heathrow, voted by 85% for strike action. The GMB members are protesting at a decision by Balpa to make changes to their final salary pension scheme.
Balpa said it was "disappointed" after making an improved offer. Balpa said it was "extremely disappointed" the strike was going ahead after making an improved offer.
The union said it was facing a pension deficit of £4.6m and was proposing changes to tackle the problem. 'Hypocrisy' claim
Conciliation talks on Tuesday at the TUC failed to find agreement, after GMB members had voted by 85% for strike action.
GMB organiser Dave Kent accused Balpa of a "disgraceful case of hypocrisy".
He said: "As a trade union, Balpa has, quite rightly, fought long and hard to protect the final salary pensions of its pilot members in British Airways and other airlines.
"The pilots’ trade union is now seeking to close its own final salary pension to new entrants and to impose drastic changes to pension benefits for existing staff.
"There is no economic justification for these changes because Balpa is one of the most successful and financially robust trade unions in the UK."
Mr Kent added: "No employer, let alone a trade union, should impose changes to terms and conditions of employment without the agreement of its own staff."
'Popular employer'
Balpa said it was facing a pension deficit of £4.6m and was proposing changes to tackle the problem.
The final salary scheme would be closed to new members.The final salary scheme would be closed to new members.
It would be asking new entrants to join a defined contribution scheme and the pension age would increase from 60 to 65. The employers would also be asking new entrants to join a defined contribution scheme and the pension age would increase from 60 to 65.
Conciliation talks, brokered by the TUC, have failed to break the deadlock between the two sides. Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said that with just 45 members the pension scheme was currently unsustainable.
Dave Kent, a GMB organiser, said: "There is no economic justification for these changes because Balpa is one of the most successful and financially robust trade unions in the UK. He said: "We have fought an action against many employers but the reality is that the vast majority of employers don't actually offer a final salary pension scheme to new entrants.
"No employer, let alone a trade union, should impose changes to terms and conditions of employment without the agreement of its own staff." "It's a pretty good scheme that we're offering and it certainly hasn't put off people applying to join our association, it's still a popular employer."