British Airline Pilots Call for Strike

British Airways pilots called for a strike to begin March 1 to protest the carrier’s acquisition of Open Skies, it was reported Thursday.

Members of the British Airline Pilots Association voted overwhelmingly — 86 percent — for a work stoppage, claiming that pilots in the subsidiary airline would be paid lower and work under worse conditions, The Times of London reported.

The pilots were considering a proposal to avoid striking during the Easter holiday for public relations reasons, the report said.

The new airline is scheduled to begin flying this summer. Pilots said they are concerned that the lower pay rates for the new British Airways pilots could affect their own pay rates, the report said.