MPs call BA 'a national disgrace' for attempt to cut staff conditions

MPs have labelled BA “a national disgrace” for trying to slash its staff terms and conditions during the coronavirus crisis. In a scathing report, the Commons transport select committee accused BA of making “a calculated attempt to take advantage of the pandemic” through moves that could lead to up to 12,000 staff being laid off and the remaining 30,000 put on inferior contracts. Although the report said some redundancies at BA and other airlines might be inevitable, it condemned the flagcarrier, which has been granted a GBP300m Bank of England loan and received GBP35m a month to furlough thousands of employees. In conclusion, MPs said: “The behaviour of British Airways and its parent company towards its employees is a national disgrace. It falls well below the standards we would expect from any employer, especially in light of the scale of taxpayer subsidy, at this time of national crisis.” BA issued formal notice to unions at the end of April of its plans to lay off staff and reduce terms and conditions. The 45-day minimum period for consultation will pass on Monday, although immediate redundancies are not expected. The transport committee chair, Huw Merriman, said: “The impact of coronavirus may sadly mean that the loss of some jobs in the aviation sector is justified. The behaviour of British Airways and its parent company, IAG, is not.”<br/>