Easyjet pilots vote for industrial action in dispute over fatigue

Easyjet (Other OTC: EJTTF - news) pilots have overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action in a dispute over fatigue.

Brian Strutton, general secretary of pilots' union BALPA, said there was still hope the issue could be resolved.

He said: "BALPA has received a last-minute offer from Easyjet to resolve the dispute and we will consider this carefully in meetings tomorrow before taking any further decisions.

"For clarity, that means there are no plans for pilots taking industrial action in Easyjet at this stage.

"We will issue further information tomorrow."

Mr Strutton said 96% of union members who voted had backed taking action, on a turnout of 88%. The airline has 2,000 UK-based pilots.

Easyjet said it was "committed to working with BALPA to find a resolution to the issues raised and we hope to reach a mutually agreeable solution".

It added: "Easyjet can reassure its passengers that no industrial action is currently planned by its UK pilots."

Talks between the union and the airline had been running for more than a year before breaking down in August.

Any strike would be a first in Britain for the low-cost carrier.