And here is what has been agreed:
FROM: Simon Talling-Smith, Head of Inflight Service
TO: All Cabin Crew
CC: Downroute Cabin Crew
T&G SETTLEMENT - KEY POINTS
Following the good news that the planned cabin crew strikes have been called off, I would like to share with you the key points of the settlement we have negotiated with the T&G.
As you will be aware, the key points relate to pay, absence, the number of pursers on Boeing 747-400 aircraft and strengthening of the airline's relationship with the T&G's cabin crew branch, BASSA.
The detail of the settlement in relation to these points is as follows:
Pay:
There will be a two-year pay deal for all cabin crew. This is worth inflation (4.4 per cent) plus 0.2 per cent in year one (from February 1, 2007) and inflation in year two (from February 1, 200.
In addition, four new non-pensionable increments will be added at the top of scale for new entrant cabin crew. The increments will lift basic non-pensionable salary (excluding allowances) at top-of-scale for cabin crew who joined the airline after 1997 to £18,600.
Absence:
There will be changes to the application of the absence management policy to recognise the genuine concerns of cabin crew. The company and the unions will work jointly to support the agreement on attendance management.
It will be normal practice for the following conditions to be discounted: colds and flu resulting in blocked ears, diarrhoea & vomiting, one-off life events (for example, surgery or broken limb) and down-route sickness. Good attendance will be taken into account and it will be normal practice to discount the first period of sickness in a 21-month period.
However, the line crew manager will endeavour to look at all the circumstances when making these decisions.
747 Pursers:
It was agreed to remove one purser onboard Boeing 747-400s and replace with a main cabin crew member from September 2007.
Relationship:
As I mentioned earlier, both parties recognise that a fresh start is needed to the relationship and work will begin on developing a constructive and professional relationship.
This work will be revised on a regular basis by chief executive Willie Walsh and Tony Woodley, the general secretary of the T&G.
While these are the key points of the negotiated settlement, you will be aware that there were a number of other issues raised by the T&G. I will provide more details on these in due course.
Simon Talling-Smith,
Head of Inflight Service