Pilots' union accused of hypocrisy

Members of the GMB employed by the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) walked out in protest at changes to their final salary pension scheme.

GMB officer Dave Kent accused Balpa of "hypocrisy" by planning changes to the final salary pension scheme, adding: "As a trade union, Balpa has quite rightly fought long and hard to protect the final salary pensions of its pilot members in British Airways and other airlines.

"Balpa is now seeking to close its own final salary pension to new entrants and to impose drastic changes to pension benefits for existing staff.

"There is no economic justification for these changes because Balpa is one of the most successful and financially robust trade unions in the UK.

"No employer, let alone a trade union, should impose changes to terms and conditions of employment without the agreement of its own staff. Balpa would not tolerate such behaviour from an employer that it was dealing with and the GMB will not tolerate this from Balpa."

Jim McAuslan, general secretary of Balpa said: "Balpa is extremely disappointed that the GMB has decided to proceed with a strike despite Balpa making improved offers and without the GMB even consulting its members on those offers.

"We campaign against airlines not only because they have been closing defined benefit pension schemes but they have been imposing very inferior defined contribution schemes for new employees.

"Balpa has offered new employees a first rate defined contributions scheme which is so good that the GMB negotiators originally recommended it. There is a huge difference and it is grossly unfair to accuse Balpa of hypocrisy as GMB now does."

Talks aimed at resolving the row broke down on Tuesday night, leading to a picked line being mounted at Balpa's head office close to Heathrow airport.