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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Virgin cabin crew ditch strikes | Virgin cabin crew ditch strikes |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Virgin Atlantic cabin crew have called off planned strikes after a deal was agreed with management on pay. | |
| Staff had planned two 48-hour walkouts, one from Wednesday and a second from 16 January, after initially rejecting a similar wage deal. | |
| Sir Richard Branson said the two-year deal - a 4.8% pay increase, followed by a rise in line with inflation - was a "triumph of common sense". | |
| He had previously told staff who had threatened to strike to work elsewhere. | |
| There is also a commitment to review pay again in April 2009. | There is also a commitment to review pay again in April 2009. |
| "This agreement recognises the important contribution cabin crew make to the business," said Brian Boyd, national officer at Unite, which represented the cabin crew. | "This agreement recognises the important contribution cabin crew make to the business," said Brian Boyd, national officer at Unite, which represented the cabin crew. |
| "I am of the firm opinion that we now have the opportunity to ensure an improved relationship with Virgin Atlantic in the future." | "I am of the firm opinion that we now have the opportunity to ensure an improved relationship with Virgin Atlantic in the future." |
| The outcome is a triumph of common sense and means that our passengers need not worry about getting to their destinations Sir Richard Branson | The outcome is a triumph of common sense and means that our passengers need not worry about getting to their destinations Sir Richard Branson |
| Management and union representatives said prolonged negotiations had damaged the relationship between the airlines, cabin crew and the union. | Management and union representatives said prolonged negotiations had damaged the relationship between the airlines, cabin crew and the union. |
| "We are pleased that both sides have managed to avert strike action that was planned for this week and next," Sir Richard said. | "We are pleased that both sides have managed to avert strike action that was planned for this week and next," Sir Richard said. |
| "The outcome is a triumph of common sense and means that our passengers need not worry about getting to their destinations." | "The outcome is a triumph of common sense and means that our passengers need not worry about getting to their destinations." |
| Sir Richard has admitted that rival airlines have 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," he 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," he said. |
| Industrial action scheduled by workers at airport operator BAA has also been called off. | Industrial action scheduled by workers at airport operator BAA has also been called off. |
| Union members had called for strikes on 7, 14, 17 and 18 January, but these were called off last week after BAA eased plans to alter worker pension rights. | Union members had called for strikes on 7, 14, 17 and 18 January, but these were called off last week after BAA eased plans to alter worker pension rights. |