British pilots have launched a petition for improved maternity pay to encourage more women to join the industry.
The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) says the current level of statutory maternity pay, which is all that is offered by most airlines, puts women off taking up careers in aviation.
Statutory maternity pay is £145 per week from weeks 7-39, which can mean pilots taking a 90% pay cut. BALPA is calling for full pay for the first 26 weeks’ maternity leave and half pay for the remainder of their statutory maternity leave.
Lauching its industry-wide~’Baby on Board’~campaign with a parliamentary event, BALPA general secretary Brian Strutton, said: "Many of our female members tell us that they are the highest earners within their families – the traditional ‘breadwinner’ role. Some are single parent families. Increasingly, women pilots are also servicing debt from the costs of higher education and flight training, along with saving for the costs of buying a first house.
"When they go on statutory maternity leave their wages are slashed to just £145.18 per week and many find themselves struggling financially.
"For some it means delaying having children, taking shorter maternity leave or giving up on having a family all together.
"BALPA is calling for the airline industry to offer enhanced maternity pay for pilots across the board, 26 weeks full and 26 weeks half pay.~
"If airlines are serious about taking on more women pilots they should say yes."
A survey of maternity pay across 341 UK organisations in 2017, both in the public and private sectors, found that 54.8% of employers offer maternity pay which is more generous than the statutory minimum, said BALPA.
