The Professional Pilots Association (PPU) notified the airline of its intention to ballot members on Monday afternoon (November 12).
Virgin doesn’t currently recognise the PPU and instead recognises the British Airline Pilots Association, or Balpa.
The PPU though is understood to represent more than half of Virgin’s 800 pilots.
The union has long been in dispute with Virgin over recognition, and latterly, proposed changes to pilots’ pension schemes.
Despite it representing more pilots that Balpa, the PPU has been excluded from the airline’s benefits review.
A PPU spokesperson told TTG the union was working to a “tight timetable”, which could allow it to stage industrial action starting December 23.
They added Virgin had acknowledged the ballot notice, but had stressed any talks over recognition would be conditional on the PPU withdrawing its strike ballot. This would, in effect, halt any prospect of strike action before Christmas.
“It is not a condition we were willing to accept,” said the spokesperson. “They did this before a year ago. We went through the whole process.
“Since then, they have totally ignored us. They can stop this [ballot] any time by talking to us.”
The PPU says it recognises the impact a Christmas strike would have and has urged Virgin to make a meaningful offer of talks.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “The PPU has notified us of their intention to ballot for industrial action, and we’re currently awaiting further details.
“We understand from the notification received from the PPU that one third of our pilots will be balloted for industrial action.
“We continue to work closely with our recognised unions regarding a review of our benefits.”
