CABIN crew from regional airline Loganair, which operates flights from Jersey to UK airports such as Southampton, East Midlands and Exeter, are to take part in a ballot over potential industrial action.
An estimated 60 crew are expected to be eligible for the ballot, organised by trade union Unite, following the rejection of a “final” pay offer by the employer.
Carrie Donoghue, Unite industrial officer, added: “Unite found itself in the unacceptable position of Loganair tabling a final offer before any negotiations had taken place.
“Loganair appears to have no genuine intention of avoiding an escalation in the dispute. Any future strike action involving Loganair cabin crew will be a direct result of the company putting profits before people.”
A Loganair spokesperson said: “We are aware that Unite is consulting its members on possible industrial action over pay.
“Having engaged constructively with Unite over recent months, we are disappointed by this move – in late September, we made an improved offer giving certainty over a two-year period, and we learned of its rejection through the media rather than from Unite directly.
“Like every airline, we are operating in a very challenging economic climate, with fuel costs up significantly and consumer demand softening. We value our cabin crew greatly, and we remain committed to reaching an agreement through the recognised collective bargaining process, with hopes that Unite return to the table.
“We do not expect this situation to affect our services, and our priority remains the smooth running of our flights for customers.”
In addition to year-round direct services between Jersey and Southampton, East Midlands, Exeter and Bristol, Loganair provides seasonal links to other airports including Paris Charles De Gaulle, Bordeaux and Norwich.
The ballot is set to close on 27 October.
