Staff at the Civil Aviation Authority are to be balloted on an improved pay offer that will be worth 7.5% for some officials.
Professionals’ union Prospect said it had secured a “significantly improved” deal after members at the regulator, which is sponsored by the Department for Transport, voted to strike over the 5% originally tabled for 2023-24.
Prospect said the improved deal for CAA staff would see those in zones 1 and 2 of their pay bands receive an additional 2.5% on top of the original offer. Staff in zone 3, which is the highest zone within a pay band, would receive an additional 1.5%.
The boosted offer would be paid from October and consolidated. Prospect said an agreed minimum uplift meant no staff would receive a pay increase of less than £1,750, particularly helping lower earners among the CAA’s roughly 600 staff.
Prospect negotiator John Stevenson said the improved offer was testament to members' resolve to fight for a better deal.
“The cost-of-living crisis is so bad that the CAA’s initial pay offer simply was not enough for workers to continue to cover their bills,” he said.
“Thanks to the determination of our members to stand their ground and not accept that initial offer, we have managed to secure a far better deal which represents a permanent pay uplift.
“This is a significantly improved offer, and we recommend to members that they accept it.”
Prospect has yet to publish a timescale for its ballot on the offer.
CSW sought a response from the CAA. It had not provided one at the time of publication.