BMI pilots vote to back walk-out

BMI says it will hold talks with unions next week

Hundreds of pilots at one of the UK's leading airlines, BMI, have voted to strike as part of a row over pay.

A total of 89% of pilots backed industrial action, which could take place next month, the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) said.

The ballot comes a week after pilots at Bmibaby also supported a walk-out.

Pilots claim the airline has imposed a number of decisions on pay, pensions and flying rotas without consultation. BMI says it has called for talks.

The two sides are expected to meet next week to discuss the dispute.

If talks between the two sides fail, industrial action could lead to disruption at a number of UK airports - including London's Heathrow, as well as Edinburgh, Manchester, East Midlands and Belfast.

'Options open'

Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said he hoped that industrial action could be avoided.

The overarching concern is that the company is bulldozing through change Jim McAuslan, Balpa

"We're keeping our options open at present. We hope that we don't need to have a strike and, in fact, talks can make progress," Mr McAuslan said.

"But if there were to be a strike, it could be a one-day strike or a series of one-day strikes depending on what we believe will best persuade management that they really need to change their ways."

Mr McAuslan added that the fact that pilots in all three divisions of BMI Group - regional, longhaul and Bmibaby - had voted to strike showed there was a "real feeling of injustice" among pilots.

"Although there are separate and specific issues of dispute in each division, the overarching concern is that the company is bulldozing through change."

BMI Group chief executive Nigel Turner said he was looking forward to meeting union representatives soon to discuss the dispute.

"We will approach the concerns raised by Balpa constructively," he added.

Changes

According to the union, Bmibaby pilots had their take home pay cut, while pilots at the it's longhaul BMI Mainline division have had their pension scheme contributions raised to 18.5% from 10%.

Meanwhile, pilots at BMI Regional are said to be unhappy at changes to their rota arrangements.

According to Balpa, all three changes have taken place without consultation.

More than 650 pilots are employed by BMI Group and 75% of them are Balpa members.