Article from BTNews 10 AUGUST 2020
Cull at British Airways
British Airways attitude towards the staff and its trade unions has provoked deep resentment among a large proportion of its workforce – and threats of industrial action claimed.
One experienced industry expert compared it to the collapse of Laker Airways nearly 40 ago years when the complete staff were made redundant overnight. “Fred looked after us,” he said.“Out of work but no resentment. Not with this lot. Terrible leadership!”
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme Unite General Secretary, Len McCluskey said: “I say to Willie Walsh, put the deal that you have agreed with pilots to the rest of the staff, and in doing so join with us as together we find a constructive and fair way through this crisis."
Unite claims that BA has adopted a more constructive and transparent approach with its pilots which it refuses to bring to discussions concerning cabin crew and other airline staff.
Mr McCluskey added: "The reality is that the pilots were never faced with the drastic ‘fire and rehire’ strategy that is being imposed on the overwhelming majority of the BA workforce.
On Friday staff were emailed a deal to be made redundant or reapply for a job, an unknown job, not necessarily the one they had before. Those not being re-employed are only due the statutory payment.
British Airways says more than 6,000 staff across the business have applied for voluntary redundancy and "refutes claims that our colleagues were pressured."
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