BA under pressure to withdraw plans for job cuts

After the UK airline announced plans to cut what amounts to 1,700 full-time jobs, British Airways has come under pressure from union representatives to abandon plans for job cuts.

On Tuesday, British Airways announced it had accepted voluntary redundancy from around 1,000 staff members and planned to reduce work hours for another 3,000 workers. The combined effect of the two moves would be tantamount to cutting 1,700 full-time jobs. British Airways also announced a freeze of basic pay for current employees for a period of two years.

Unions responded strongly the very next day, demanding that the airline ditch the planned job cuts and resume talks, failing which British Airways could face strike action by staff members in the run-up to the crucial Christmas season.

The union has said the proposed plans would enforce significant contractual changes on the remaining workforce, and would result in the introduction of a “second tier workforce” that would have to accept poorer pay and conditions.

The changes that British Airways has announced are set to be in motion by November 16 this year. The airline has denied that there would be any significant changes to terms and conditions of work. However, employees have expressed fear that remuneration packages may shrink by as much as half.

British Airways has so far stood firm on its decisions, and says it needs to reduce costs to return to profitability. With this year already showing losses and the next year expected to be loss-making as well, the airline is facing two consecutive loss-making years, the first time this has ever happened in the history of the company.