[attach id=441087 size="medium"]EasyJet has said it will operate its full summer flight schedule despite the dispute.[/attach]

Cabin crew at easyJet are to be balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pay.

British union Unite said around 2,000 of its members will start voting from July 14 on whether to launch a campaign of action, with the result due on August 3.

It said the company, which flies to Malta from four British and three Italian airports, was seeking to impose a two per cent pay rise for cabin crew and 2.5 per cent for managers.

Regional officer Kevin Hall said: “Cabin crew have worked hard to make easyJet a success, enabling the company to record pre-tax profits in excess of half a billion pounds. At the same time, directors’ pay has soared by over 18 per cent.”

The company said it was confident it will operate its full summer flight schedule.

A statement said: “EasyJet values the contribution our cabin crew make to the company. EasyJet’s cabin crew receive the highest pay in the UK airline industry with total annual package of £25,000 (€35,000) – which is in line with the average UK national wage for all workers.

“All crew share in easyJet's success through an annual bonus and share awards.

“EasyJet has now awarded its UK cabin crew increases of 4.1 per cent for cabin crew and 5.1 per cent for cabin managers over two years backdated to January 2015 on top of an already market leading set of pay and conditions in the UK.

“We believe it is right to make the award now since cabin crew, the majority of whom are not union members, have been waiting for a conclusion to the pay discussions for a number of months.

“EasyJet is disappointed that in a recent Unite pay ballot members voted to reject the offer. However, we note that the majority of easyJet's cabin crew are not members of Unite and we estimate that only one in five of easyJet's UK cabin crew voted against the offer.”

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