Pilots and technical crew employed by Bristow Helicopters are endeavor strike motion this week in a dispute over pay and benefits.
The search and rescue winch operators and paramedics, who’re members of the British Airline Pilots’ Affiliation (Balpa), started strike motion on Tuesday. It would proceed for the remainder of the week.
Bristow Helicopters pilots and crew consider that following below-inflation pay settlements and freezes for the previous few years whereas the employer skilled monetary difficulties, their pay ranges ought to now be corresponding to different helicopter organisations.
The workers have acknowledged that they’ve requested for a rise to pilot and technical crew salaries and allowances in keeping with the speed of inflation backdated to 1 April 2023, in addition to a rise to the employer’s pension contribution price.
Their different requests embody a rise in lack of licence cowl in addition to harmonisation of lack of license advantages for former workers, an increase within the quantity of medical insurance coverage, and the elimination of discrepancies between former crew primarily based in Newquay and present Bristow aircrew in relation to the employer pension contribution price, sick pay provision and lack of license or medical advantages.
Based on Balpa, it submitted its declare in February 2023 and had beforehand postponed strike dates in a bid to pursue a negotiated settlement, however no settlement has been reached.
Amy Leversidge, basic secretary at Balpa, stated: “We’ve been in negotiations for effectively over a yr and have given the corporate ample alternatives to hearken to its personal employees. Our members are merely asking for a good pay deal that demonstrates the corporate values them and repays among the loyalty proven and the contribution pilots and technical crews have made to the organisation’s success. Bristow administration must hear and put ahead a good pay provide that recognises the appreciable worth of pilots and technical crew.”
Bristow Helicopters was contacted for remark previous to publication.