NATS Update May 2026

We are currently in negotiations on pay for 2026. This comes off the back of a three-year deal that saw members' pay keep up with inflation, but there was very little progress on sectional pay items. To try to remedy this PCS included sectional items in the main core claim as a way of ensuring the key demands were met.

We are currently balloting members to reject the latest offer as while the new two-year deal fulfils some sectional items PCS believe an additional 0.1% consolidated pay on core pay, offered to a different trade group, fails to support our strong equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) commitments.

Decisions taken now about how core and sectional pay elements interact are not EDI neutral. Even where headline differences appear small, changes that permanently affect consolidated and pensionable pay can disproportionately impact lower‑paid groups, influence lifetime earnings and pension outcomes, and risk embedding structural inequality over time.

PCS is therefore particularly focused on ensuring that pay frameworks remain fair, consistent and collective, and that outcomes do not inadvertently create or entrench disparities between groups that already experience different levels of pay, security and leverage. From our perspective, this is not a hypothetical future risk, it is an EDI consideration that arises directly from how current arrangements are being structured.

We also have concerns with our regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and their interference with our pension provisions. As a result, the branch will be writing to the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss this issue.

Away from pay there are continued Organisational Design changes. While this work doesn’t directly impact PCS members as they are at a more senior level, the near constant change is becoming draining. PCS is engaged in the changes, but it takes up precious rep resource at a very busy time.

As we approach the summer months we are expecting to see traffic levels increase and with the conflict in the middle east, rising fuel costs and potential inflation changes, it remains a challenging environment to operate in.