EXCLUSIVE: In a letter seen by Mirror Money, BA employees – many of whom have been with the airline for several decades – are being told to accept to pay cuts to avoid redundancy
Thousands of long-standing British Airways workers have been told to sign « devastating » new contracts or face redundancy, Mirror Money can reveal.
Dozens of employees who have been placed on consultation told us they’ve been told to accept pay cuts of up to 60% to keep their jobs.
The move forms part of the firm’s plans to axe 12,000 roles on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw almost all employees placed on furlough in March.
« I joined British Airways in 1987 as a steward based at Gatwick Airport, » one employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Mirror Money.
« Since lockdown began, I’ve completed flights to repatriate customers and to bring much needed freight to and from the UK.
« On June 17, 2020 I, along with my colleagues face being dismissed by British Airways if we do not consent to new contracts.
« This will involve a 60% cut in my current pay whilst increasing productivity by 25%. I would also be required to fly some short haul flights.
Thousands of workers have been placed on consultation – and those who do not agree to the new terms will lose their jobs this month
The employee claims British Airways is using Covid-19 as a smokescreen to scrap its « legacy » fleet.
BA’s cabin crew is divided up into three parts – long haul (legacy), short haul (legacy), and a lower-paid, newer ‘mixed fleet’ who fly both long haul and within Europe.
Most senior crew – customer service managers – earn around £35,000, while some crew leaders – customer service directors – can earn up to £80,000 per year. Meanwhile, mixed fleet crew bring in between £23,000 and £28,000 annually.
However, the airline is planning to move every worker into a single fleet group at a lower pay.
Under the proposed terms, staff say their salaries will be streamlined to £24,000 – a move workers say will leave them struggling financially.
Senior long haul flight attendants based at London Heathrow told us their wages will fall by up to 60%. Those who refuse to accept these contract changes have been told their roles will be terminated on June 15.
The airline’s owner, International Airlines Group (IAG), announced the planned job cuts in April as it revealed that revenues plunged 13% in the first quarter of 2020
