CAA workers vote to take strike action for the first time in 40 years

Prospect members working at the Civil Aviation authority (CAA) have voted strongly in favour of industrial action in a pay dispute.

 

This is the first time in 40 years that its employees have voted for industrial action.

73% of those who voted did so in favour of taking strike action (27% against) while 94% voted in favour of taking action short of a strike (6% against). Turnout was over the legal threshold.

The CAA imposed a 3-4% pay offer on staff after going through the motions of negotiating – an offer which neither kept pace with the industry nor civil service (The CAA is a Non-Departmental Public Body).

Rachel Curley, Deputy General Secretary of Prospect, said:

“Our members don’t want to take industrial action but they have been left with no choice after unacceptable tactics from the employer.

“Over the last few years the CAA has fallen further behind the industry on pay making it harder and harder to recruit at the experience level it requires. It needs to up its game or it will begin to lose capability.

“There is still time for the employer to avoid industrial action which will be damaging for the industry. They need to restart good faith negotiations with us and come up with a fair and reasonable offer that our members can accept.”