Pay Deals In The Air Industry Beating Inflation

7th August 2023

British Airways workers secure major pay increase.

British Airways agrees pay deal with Unite for 24000 staff, reverses ‘fire and rehire' pay cuts.

The deal reportedly includes a guarantee that anyone who was subject to ‘fire and rehire' during the pandemic will have their pay restored to its 2020 level before the new increase is applied.

Large pay increase
The workforce (excluding pilots and management) will receive a pay increase worth 13.1 per cent over an 18-month period, as well as a £1,000 one off payment. Unite has also built into the deal the potential for pay to increase further during this period if inflation remains high.

In addition to the pay increase, Unite has secured agreement that no member of staff will have the pay increase applied at a lower rate of pay then they were receiving in 2020.

This agreement reverses BA's highly controversial decision at the height of the Covid pandemic to fire and rehire its entire workforce, with many workers suffering substantial pay cuts. Put simply, this both restores and increases pay.

Fire and rehire reversed
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "This is a sizable pay increase which has been achieved by the hard work and dedication of the union's reps and officers, hammered out in detailed negotiations.

"The fact that Unite has reversed the fire and rehire cuts while also securing a large increase in pay, underlines how the union's relentless focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of members, is delivering for workers financially."

Other increases
As well as the overall pay increase, Unite has also negotiated "milestone reviews" and additional increases for specific groups of workers at the company.

Unite balloted its members at British Airways on the offer and it was overwhelmingly accepted.

Aviation pay
Unite national co-ordinating officer Oliver Richardson said: "The British Airways deal is the latest evidence of how Unite is securing significant pay increases for workers throughout the aviation sector, and as the sector recovers, we are also securing improvements for our members' terms and conditions."

Birmingham airport strike off after Unite secures 13.3% pay deal
Strike action by over 150 Birmingham airport security officers and terminal technicians has been cancelled after they accepted an improved pay deal.

The one year pay deal will see the workers' pay increase by 13.25 per cent, made up of a 10.5 per cent consolidated rise and 2.75 per cent non-consolidated.

The deal will also see two new Unite workplace reps, a wider collective bargaining agreement and increased union organising access across the airport.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite's Birmingham airport workers secured this deal because they stood strong in their union. Once again, Unite's absolute concentration on delivering improvements to jobs, pay and conditions has paid off for our members."

The workers are directly employed by Birmingham Airport Limited (BAL).

Unite secures double-digit pay rises at two more firms
ASC workers voted in favour of a double digit pay rise, while workers at Menzies voted in favour of a 13 per cent increase for ground handling staff and a 17 per cent increase for the lowest paid staff, as well as enhancements to annual leave and sick pay.

The votes in favour of the deals mean that both disputes have now ended, and all strike action related to them cancelled. Earlier this week, strikes by Gatwick DHL workers were also called off after the workers voted to accept a 15 per cent pay deal.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "These excellent results were achieved because Menzies and ASC workers at Gatwick are unionised and stood strong. Unite does what it says on the trade union tin: Defend and improve jobs, pay and conditions for our members."

Unite secures DHL workers 15% rise
Strikes by DHL workers have been cancelled completely after they voted to accept a 15 per cent rise, as well as an uplift in skills pay, meaning workers will see their hourly rates increase by between 15 per cent and 31 per cent. A new shift premium of £1.25 per hour for between 0000 hrs and 0459 hrs has also been secured, increasing workers' hourly rates by 23 per cent and 43 per cent during those hours.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "This is an excellent result secured by the steadfast position of our DHL members. Once again, workers are gaining real material benefits from Unite’s absolute focus on improving jobs, pay and conditions."