BA’s cost cuts are rejected by workers
BRITAIN edged closer towards a summer of holiday disruption yesterday, as 2,000 cabin crew and ground staff rejected cost cutting plans put to them by British Airways (BA).
The flag carrier is striving to cut costs after it reported a record loss of £401m earlier this year.
BA had set a 30 June deadline to agree a deal on around 3,500 job cuts, a pay freeze and contract changes, but talks fell apart when a way forward could not be found.
The airline and unions will re-enter discussions, to be chaired by conciliation service Acas, tomorrow.
As the Unite union met with staff ahead of tomorrow’s meeting, they said they would not accept an “assault” on worker’s pay, terms or conditions, but would consider a two-year pay freeze, which could save the company around £50m.
Staff voted to reject BA’s plans, which also included a new staff “starter-rate” of £11,000, and to move forward with the union’s suggestions.
Last month, BA said that 800 staff at the airline had agreed to work for free for up to for up to four weeks, while a further 6,200 volunteered either to take unpaid leave or switch from full-time to part-time shifts.
The unpaid work is still set to go ahead, but Unite complained yesterday that “pressure was mounted on colleagues to agree to the unpaid shifts,” and said they would raise the matter in tomorrow’s meeting.
“We believe BA is going through the motions with Acas,” the union said. “They are also looking to resurrect the contracts which led to a breakdown a few years ago.”