Prospect announced that 360 members working for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will initiate a work-to-rule action starting January 20, in response to the public body’s decision to implement a 3-4% pay increase.
This industrial action, marking the first of its kind at the CAA in four decades, is expected to impact various operations, as the regulator depends on employees working beyond their standard hours.
Potential disruptions could affect the certification process for new aircraft and modifications to current planes, including the British Airways upgrade revealed in November, as stated by a Prospect representative.
The airline intends to roll out what it describes as a revolutionary luxury hotel-style redesign of the first-class cabins in its A380 superjumbo fleet by mid-2026.
This redesign will include seats over three feet wide, 32-inch television screens, and a privacy wall that can be retracted to create a communal lounge area.
Prospect criticized the CAA for imposing the pay increase in August, claiming it merely went through the motions of negotiation.
The union is advocating for an alternative agreement that includes at least a 5.5% increase retroactive to last April, along with a one-time payment of £1,500, which it argues would align their pay with that of civil service employees.
Rachel Curley, the union's deputy general secretary, emphasized that there is still an opportunity to avert disruptions if the CAA improves the pay offer.
She said: “Our members don’t want to take industrial action but they have been left with no choice after unacceptable tactics from the employer.
“The CAA needs to restart good-faith negotiations and come up with a fair and reasonable offer that our members can accept.”
The workload of the CAA has expanded since Brexit, as the regulator has taken on certification responsibilities along with research and policy development tasks.
Additionally, it has gained oversight of space activity regulations and has experienced a significant increase in work related to drone operations.
Other responsibilities include ensuring that airlines and airports comply with safety and security regulations, enforcing consumer protection laws, regulating landing fees at Heathrow, managing airspace, monitoring environmental effects, and overseeing travel companies through the ATOL scheme.
According to the union, Prospect members occupy various essential middle and senior management positions, and a recent ballot indicated that 94% of votes supported action short of a strike, with nearly three-quarters in favor of a walkout.
The CAA stated that its compensation package aligns with public sector pay policies, the wider economic landscape, and its financial viability, which includes revenue generated from aviation industry fees.
A spokesperson for the CAA remarked, “We are committed to ongoing discussions with our union representatives, and it is regrettable that Prospect members have chosen to pursue industrial action after extensive negotiations.”
The CAA noted that since the labor group represents only about 20% of its workforce, it does not expect any disruption to its regulatory functions or other critical safety operations.