Sir Richard Branson has told Virgin Atlantic staff unhappy with the wages offered by the airline to quit.
Sir Richard Branson has told Virgin Atlantic staff unhappy with the wages offered by the airline to quit.
In a letter to 4,800 cabin crew, the Virgin boss warned the firm would not be meeting "dangerous" pay demands.
In a letter to 4,800 cabin crew, the Virgin boss warned he would not be meeting pay demands. Workers' union Unite called the letter "provocative".
It comes after union members voted to strike in January in protest against pay they say is lower than at other airlines, including British Airways.
It comes after union members voted to strike in January in protest against pay they say is lower than at other airlines, including British Airways.
The strikes will run for 48 hours each, from 0600 GMT on Wednesday 9 January, and 0600 GMT on Wednesday 16 January.
The 48-hour strikes are scheduled for 9 and 10 January, and 16 and 17 January.
For some of you, more pay than Virgin Atlantic can afford may be critical to your lifestyle and if that is the case you should consider working elsewhere Sir Richard Branson
The strikes are not the only industrial action scheduled for January, with union members at airport operator BAA set to cause mass disruption at the UK's largest airports on three other dates.
The strikes are not the only industrial action scheduled for January, with union members at airport operator BAA set to cause mass disruption at the UK's largest airports on three other dates.
Worth the perks?
'Dangerous precedent'?
In his letter, Mr Branson admitted that rival airlines often offered better basic wages but said that they did not offer the perks that came with working for a "smaller, more friendly" company.
In his letter, Mr Branson said Virgin Atlantic had "drawn a line in the sand" over pay this year.
"To go further would result in unacceptable risks and would set a dangerous precedent to the company as a whole," he added.
"It would be irresponsible of our management and they, rightly, are not going to take that risk."
Mr Branson admitted that rival airlines often offered better basic wages but said that they did not offer the perks that came with working for a "smaller, more friendly" company.
"For some of you, more pay than Virgin Atlantic can afford may be critical to your lifestyle and if that is the case you should consider working elsewhere," Mr Branson said.
"For some of you, more pay than Virgin Atlantic can afford may be critical to your lifestyle and if that is the case you should consider working elsewhere," Mr Branson said.
Virgin Atlantic has previously said that there would be no "eleventh hour change to our pay offer".
Virgin Atlantic has previously said that there would be no "eleventh hour change to our pay offer".
The airline said its offer was worth 8.3% on basic pay over two years, with a 4.8% increase offered in the first year.
The airline said its offer was worth 8.3% on basic pay over two years, with a 4.8% increase offered in the first year.
Separate dispute
'Unhelpful'
Later on Monday, union officials representing about 6,000 BAA airport workers will meet with company officials in an attempt to avert a series of strikes next month.
A Unite spokesperson said the letter was "unhelpful in resolving the dispute" and would "only make people more upset".
The Unite union is planning 24-hour strikes starting at 0600 GMT on 7 and 14 January, and a 48-hour strike from 0600 GMT on 17 January.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said that since the letter was sent, a number of union members had contacted management offering to cross the picket line and work on the strike days.
Firefighters and security staff are among those set to walk out in a bitter dispute over the closure of BAA's final salary pension scheme to new workers.
The action will take place at all seven of the company's UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh, and BAA expects about 1.3 million passengers to be affected.
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