Monarch face strike threat
24.05.09
Thousands of passengers face summer holiday chaos after Monarch cabin crew threatened to strike in a row over pay. Staff at Britain's biggest independent charter line are said to be furious after bosses refused them a pay rise.
Up to 700 cabin staff are due to be balloted on strike action after talks with management broke down. If they back the move, stoppages are likely in the July peak of the holiday season - hitting flights from Gatwick, Birmingham, Luton, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin.
Brian Boyd, of the union Unite, said: ‘The requests of our members are reasonable and in line with other industry operators. We are urging Monarch to continue negotiating in order to avert damaging industrial action.’ He stressed members understood the need for sacrifices during the recession, and had asked Monarch to defer this year's pay rise.
A Monarch spokesman said: ‘Given the current economic situation and its impact on the aviation industry, pay increases and additional benefits for employees are unachievable at present. We are continuing to work with the cabin crew trade union to resolve this matter as quickly as possible, in the interests of its customers and all other employees.’
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