Pilots union staff suspend strike

Workers employed by the trade union for airline pilots have suspended a strike in a row about pensions after receiving a new offer.

Some 33 GMB union members from the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) at West Drayton, near Heathrow, walked out at 0600 BST on Wednesday.

They planned to stage a 48-hour protest over a decision by Balpa to change to their final salary pension scheme.

But following talks between the two sides, work will resume on Thursday.

'May be acceptable'

Staff will vote on the proposed deal at a meeting at 0930 BST.

"I am delighted we have received an offer which I believe will be acceptable to our members," said GMB organiser Dave Kent.

Conciliation talks on Tuesday at the TUC failed to find agreement, after GMB members had voted by 85% for strike action.

It had accused Balpa of a "disgraceful case of hypocrisy" for seeking to close its final salary pension to new entrants and change pension benefits for existing staff.

The pilots' union said it was facing a pension deficit of £4.6m and was proposing changes to tackle that problem.

It said it offered new employees a "first rate" defined contributions scheme.

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