British Airways pilots have voted 93% in favour of strike action in a ballot organised by union BALPA.
The union said the turnout was 90% and says BA should settle the dispute rather than allow the strike to go ahead.
Meanwhile, BA is going to the High Court today to try to get an injunction against industrial action. The court appearance means further negotiations are on hold while BALPA prepares ‘to defend our right to take this action’.
BALPA general secretary, Brian Strutton, said: "This strong result demonstrates the resolve of BA pilots, and shows BA that it must table a sensible improved offer if a strike is to be averted.
"Sadly three days of ACAS talks have not moved the company’s position one iota. Settlement of this dispute is in BA’s hands.
"We do not wish to inconvenience our customers, which is why we have tried to resolve this matter through negotiation starting last November – it is BA who has regrettably chosen to drag this out into the summer months."
BALPA believes the cost to BA to settle dispute in full is significantly less than the cost would be of one day’s strike action.
In a statement, BALPA said: "We currently do not have dates for any potential strike action and will issue an update on this in due course.
"We remain hopeful that this dispute can be resolved before strike action, but we remain committed to action if necessary."
BA said in a statement: "We are very disappointed that BALPA, the pilots’ union, has chosen to threaten the travel plans of thousands of our customers, over the summer holidays, with possible strike action.’¯’¯We remain open to working with BALPA to reach an agreement, which we have been doing since December.
"Our proposed pay offer of 11.5 per cent over three years is fair, and by contrast to BALPA, the Unite and GMB trade unions, which represent nearly 90 per cent of all British Airways colleagues, have already recommended the same pay offer to their members.
"We continue to pursue every avenue to find a solution to protect our customers’ travel plans and avoid industrial action and we urge BALPA to return to talks as soon as possible."
