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Pilots' union staff start strike | |
(1 day later) | |
Workers employed by the trade union for airline pilots have started a 48-hour strike in a row over pensions. | |
Some 33 GMB union members from the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) at West Drayton, near Heathrow, walked out from 0600 BST. | |
The GMB members are protesting at a decision by Balpa to make changes to their final salary pension scheme. | |
Balpa said it was "extremely disappointed" the strike was going ahead after making an improved offer. | |
'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 pilotsâ 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. |
The employers would also be asking new entrants to join a defined contribution scheme and the pension age would increase from 60 to 65. | |
Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said that with just 45 members the pension scheme was currently unsustainable. | |
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. | |
"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." |
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