Skift Take
Two-tiered pay scales may seem like a good idea in the beginning. But what happens six years later, when one employee group earns far more than another, even though both do the same job? British Airways is learning how hard it is to keep everyone happy.
Roughly 15 percent of British Airways' cabin crew plan to strike for 48 hours starting Tuesday, a move likely to disrupt travel plans for many of the airline's customers.
The crew had planned to strike on December 25 and 26, and called it off when British Airways made a new offer. But the union rejected it, and its leadership continues to argue the company is trying to pay flight attendants "poverty wages." British Airways, meanwhile, counters that it pays fair wages that match other airlines.
British Airways said it will detail its plans on Friday for coping with the strike, promising to get all passengers to their destinations. But that likely will be more difficult than on Christmas and Boxing Day, when fewer people travel.
This proposed strike is slightly different than most in the airline industry because it covers relatively few workers. There's a reason for this, as we explain here.
What's the Strike About?
In 2010, when British Airways was feeling the pinch from from low-cost competition, it wanted to reduce labor costs. It's never easy to win concessions from current employees, so after a long flight with the union, the company tried something differe
