MP: BA staff abandoned and betrayed

COST-CUTTING PLANS DRAW CRITICISM AS 12,000 AT RISK

A NEWCASTLE MP accused British Airways of “abandoning and betraying” North East staff over its drastic costcutting plans.

In April, the airline began a consultation on plans which could see up to 12,000 employees laid off, while some could be re-hired for jobs with reduced pay and conditions.

BA says it is “acting to protect jobs” as the industry faces “its deepest structural change in its history.”

However, unions accuse the airline of exploiting the pandemic to cut costs.

Members of the BA Betrayal campaign, organised by Unite, gathered at the call centre in Bamburgh Court again yesterday to stand against the plans.

Unite executive officer Sharon Graham said: “British Airways has alternative options to its drastic cuts.

“Parent company IAG’s major shareholder has now said it is prepared to inject more money into IAG if needed.

“In stark contrast to BA, its shareholder Qatar Airways is keeping cuts to a minimum and has said changes to terms and conditions would be temporary.

“It is more proof BA is using the pandemic as an opportunity to slash workers’ terms and conditions.

“All BA has to do is confirm it will not be firing and rehiring the majority of its workforce and allow sensible negotiations to get underway.”

They were joined by Newcastle Central

MP Chi Onwurah, who said: “Staff feel abandoned, betrayed and blackmailed and I urge BA management to show Newcastle staff the same levels of solidarity and commitment they have shown others.”

North Tyneside MP Mary Glindon added: “I fully support the action being taken by employees of BA.

“At the weekend the Transport Select Committee, in its report on the impact of coronavirus on the aviation sector said: ‘The behaviour of BA and its parent company towards its employees is a national disgrace.

‘It falls well below the standards we would expect from any employer, especially in light of the scale of the taxpayer subsidy at this time of national crisis.’

“BA should be thoroughly ashamed to receive such damning condemnation.”

In response to union protests, a BA 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.

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