BA behaviour "puts that of a Victorian mill owner to shame," says union

BA has been accused of “appalling behaviour that puts a Victorian mill owner to shame” in its treatment of staff. Unite the Union claimed the airline was trying to force thousands of workers onto insecure zero hours-type contracts in its latest round of proposals, and attempting to make some employees agree to five weeks’ unpaid leave per year. The changes in contract could see some staff take a 43% pay cut, claims Unite. It also accused BA of misleading workers who agreed to take voluntary redundancy, claiming that, although cabin crew and other staff were told they would receive an enhanced payment above statutory redundancy pay, the carrier was refusing to follow the standard formula for calculation. This will leave workers “potentially thousands of pounds worse off,” says Unite, adding it is encouraging those affected to withdraw from the voluntary redundancy scheme and lodge a case for unfair dismissal if they are not given the chance to remain at the company. The main union at the airline has threatened strike action as a result of the recent issues, saying “legal and industrial action is inevitable.” As a result of the worldwide grounding of flights caused by the pandemic, BA has cut more than 6,000 staff so far, 4,500 of which are cabin crew based at Heathrow and Gatwick, via voluntary redundancy. “BA’s appalling behaviour puts that of a Victorian mill owner to shame,” said Unite’s assistant general secretary Howard Beckett.<br/>