British Airways is remaining tight-lipped over staff consultation over 12,000 job cuts after a media report suggested the airline wants remaining workers to sign up to new contracts which would allow it to lay-off staff in future without negotiation.
Union leaders fear the workforce is being forced into accepting the equivalent of ‘zero-hour’ deals which could be ripped-up in the event of turbulence in future, according to The Sun.
The claim emerged as a leaked breakdown of job-losses revealed that among those targeted include 1,130 flight crew, 2,420 Heathrow ground staff, 931 engineers, 219 contact centre staff and 342 Gatwick ground staff. The projected job loss total is 11,913.
Unions have submitted legal papers to the High Court to argue that the redundancies are illegal.
They argue that the 45-day “consultation period” should in fact be 90 days.
Airline insiders said the mooted June 15 deadline is in fact the earliest a deal could be reached, with the likelihood being staff issues are resolved by December.
Workers losing their jobs will be offered standard statutory redundancy plus three months wages.
A BA insider reportedly said: “A negotiating process is under way. Everything is up for grabs. The airline is fighting for survival.”
A spokesperson for the airline said: “We can’t comment while we consult with our unions.”
BA chief executive Alex Cruz previously told staff: “We have informed the government and the trade unions of our proposals to consult over a number changes, including possible reductions in headcount.
“We will begin a period of consultation, during which we will work with the trade unions to protected as many jobs as possible.”
Meanwhile, five MPs close to Heathrow have written to Cruz over plans to cut staff after using the government-funded furlough scheme for around 36,000 staff amid the coronavirus shutdown.
The letter from Seema Malhotra, MP for Feltham & Heston, said: “We would urge you to work with unions and government to do everything possible to find a solution and mitigate job losses.
“We would greatly appreciate if you could urgently meet with us to provide a briefing on steps you are taking to alleviate the immediate financial pressures and reduce the number of jobs which could be cut, the extent to which government schemes are assisting with the impact and the support you will be providing to those who lose their jobs.”
The cross-party letter was signed by Ruth Cadbury, MP for Brentford and Isleworth, John McDonnell MP for Hayes and Harlington, Virendra Sharma MP for Ealing and Southall and James Murray MP for Ealing North.
The Unite union reportedly told the airline’s staff: “BA has availed itself of millions of pounds of taxpayers money, ostensibly to avoid making staff redundant.
“But they have not honoured that commitment or the spirit for which it was intended.
“In fact it would appear that BA has simply sought to take advantage of staff being furloughed and dismiss them in their absence.”
The unions said BA’s behaviour was “both legally and morally” wrong.
Unite has also accused BA owner International Airlines Group of being “two-faced” the approach to its operations as a €1 billion bailout was agreed for Spanish sister carriers Iberia and Vueling.
Pilots’ union Balpa said: “There are many options to ensure BA can continue its business and survive coronavirus and Balpa does not accept that job losses are the only answer. Pilots want evidence that all options have been explored fully.”