BA staff take to the streets for job cuts protest
British Airways staff from Renfrewshire have teamed up with colleagues to protest against the company’s redundancy plans.
Although BA closed its depot at Glasgow Airport in 2009, there are still many staff living locally who are affected by the airline’s plans to cut staff and change the terms and conditions of others.
The company has served 42,000 workers with a Section 188 notice, which effectively sacks them then brings them back on different terms and conditions. The measure will also cut up to 12,000 staff.
Around 900 London-based cabin crew from Glasgow are part of the workforce affected.
One member of staff, speaking on behalf of Renfrewshire staff, told the Express:“The majority of us have been furloughed from beginning of lockdown whilst the rest have been a huge part of the UK’s repatriation to bring people home.
“They have put their lives at risk to help others, doing 24hour duty days to China and back with flights full of PPE for our hardworking NHS.
“We heard via the news that despite our record-breaking billions of pounds of profit, we would all be sacked and thrown on the scrapheap or have the“opportunity”to reapply for our own jobs on a zero hour contract, no terms and conditions and 50 per cent pay cut.
“We are dedicated, experienced, loyal staff who have given BA decades of professionalism and shared our experiences, tears and smiles with not only our colleagues but with our passengers too.”
They added:“Our local MP Gavin Newlands has done an amazing job with his support of our campaign and we only hope that BA management will acknowledge the fact that if a company has hit record breaking profits their staff are doing a good job and the most valuable asset they have.”
The MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North has launched an Employment (Dismissal and Re-employment) Bill in Westminster in response to companies like BA.
He said:“The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a devastating blow to the economy and businesses across the UK.
“However it cannot be the case that some major employers exploit the pandemic by firing and then rehiring hard-working staff on significantly reduced terms.
“Households are already under financial pressure as people suffer a drop in income or job losses.
“For companies, such as Centrica and British Airways, to plough ahead with plans to water down workers’rights is shameful and must be stopped.”
The bill has already received the backing of major trade unions across the UK including Unite, BALPA and GMB Scotland.
A BA spokesperson said the company is doing everything it can to protect as many jobs as possible. The company is in a consultation period with staff whose jobs are under threat.
A spokesperson 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.”