Airline workers stage protest
BRITISH Airways workers have slammed proposals to cut jobs and pay as they held a protest outside the airline’s Newcastle office.
Members of the BA Betrayal campaign, organised by Unite, picketed the office in Bamburgh Court amid fears they could lose their jobs or have their pay cut as the company looks to restructure in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The airline revealed proposals towards the end of April following the decline in the sector caused by the crisis, which could see up to 12,000 employees laid off.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “BA is using this health crisis as cover to impose a long-term plan to slash jobs, pay and conditions including its workers in call centres. No other employer has threatened to effectively ‘fire and rehire’ its entire workforce.
“Over 40,000 loyal BA staff now face the prospect of losing either their livelihoods or potentially being re-interviewed for their own jobs on vastly reduced terms and conditions. Our union will not stop fighting for BA workers until BA ends its scandalous actions.”
Protesters holding signs and a banner gathered at Bamburgh Court at about midday yesterday, while wearing masks and adhering to social distancing rules.
Joe Rollin, from Unite, said: “We want to highlight the fact that these workers have made the company billions of pounds over the years, that shareholders are taking telephone number bonuses and so are the top executives but they’re not looking after their loyal workforce. In fact they are trying to cut their terms and conditions unnecessarily when they should be negotiating with the unions.”
A spokesperson for BA said the proposals are currently in the early stages and subject to consultation, with no decisions made so far.
Reacting to the protest, they said: “We call on Unite and GMB to consult with us on our proposals as our pilot union, BALPA, is doing. Working together we can protect more jobs as we prepare for a new future.”
In a letter to Boris Johnson, Willie Walsh, CEO of parent company International Airline Group (IAG), said the industry is facing “the worst downturn ever seen in its history” with flights grinding to a halt worldwide.