Anti-BA signs pop up across town

SIGNS have begun popping up in windows and outside homes and shops in Uxbridge reading #BABetrayal.

The notices are a dig at British Airways, a major employer in the area due to the close proximity to Heathrow Airport, and its reported proposals to fire members of staff before rehiring some on lower salary and terms and conditions of employment. The rest would lose their jobs.

The national airline has been hit hard during the coronavirus lockdown and has not flown for months, but plans to resume some flights later in July. However, chief executive Willie Walsh has said that he does not expect the airline to recover to levels similar to those seen last year until 2023.

As a result of the challenges, as many as 12,000 BA staff are at risk of redundancy, while those who remain face having to work at lower paygrades and with less favourable contracts.

The #BABetrayal campaign has been organised by the Unite Union, with its general secretary Len McCluskey calling BA a “cash cow” for its owners. The union has also called for its allocation of lucrative landing slots to be reviewed as the flag carrier currently receives preferential treatment.

The airline may also stop flying from Gatwick Airport, with Heathrow remaining its main hub. At present Terminal 5 at the airport is exclusively used by BA, as well as using Terminal 3.

Not only does UNITE dispute BA’s plan for job losses, it also has carried out its own financial analysis of the company, which it claims shows BA is “lying” about being forced to take the measures.

Signs have been seen above Uxbridge Underground station, on the high street and in shop and residential windows around the area, as well as Brunel University.

BA has already received £300 million from the government’s coronavirus relief scheme.

Sharon Graham, the union’s executive officer, said: “It’s clear that Britain wants the government to get tough on the nation’s flagcarrying airline for its disgraceful plans.

“The airline is stripping its loyal workforce of their terms and conditions while sacking thousands in the middle of a health crisis.

“If BA press ahead to create a new and unrecognisable airline, it should not continue to benefit from its domination of lucrative legacy take-off and landing slots.”

A BA spokesman said: “We are acting now to protect as many jobs as possible. The airline industry is facing the deepest structural change in its history, as well as facing a severely weakened global economy.

“We call on Unite and the GMB to consult with us on our proposals as our pilot union, Balpa, is doing.”