BRITISH AIRWAYS is making 1,000 full-time cabin crew staff at Heathrow redundant.  It is also reducing the hours of 3,000 more workers.  This equates to the loss of 1,700 full-time positions.

It is also going to extend the current pay freeze into next year.  And in future it will recruit cabin crew on lower wages.  This will create a two-tier workforce – the newer members of staff being on "easyJet levels of pay".

People generally fly with British Airways partly because they disagree with all the additional charges made by low cost carriers.  However these loyal customers are now facing similar charges.  British Airways now seem to be aping budget airlines by charging for baggage check-in, meals and drinks.  Seat allocation charges mean that it also costs up to £60 for a window or aisle seat.

Workers recognize that British Airways is in a bad way.  Last year it posted record losses of £401million.  For the first quarter of this year it had lost £148million. 

Earlier this year unions tabled changes that could have saved £140 million.  However, the company didn’t act upon these proposals.  The result appears to be these job losses.

Solidarity Trade Union President, Adam Walker, claimed that:

“It’s been reported that unions and British Airways have been in talks for months.  They have been discussing the best way forward for the company.  Despite this, the airline unilaterally announced the changes without any union agreement.

The imposition of redundancies, a two-year wage freeze and the introduction of a two-tier workforce has justifiably angered workers. There are also questions arising about negative management, bullying and harassment.  Feelings are running high – and no wonder.

I’m calling for Willie Walsh - the British Airways Chief Executive – to get back to the negotiating table.  Unilateral action is no way to turn the company’s fortunes round.  Unilateral action will only hasten strike action”.