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The trade union representing British Airways staff has labeled the company's redundancy plans "despicable" after the airline confirmed more than 10,000 workers will lose their jobs.
Friday's cuts affect mainly cabin crew, engineers and airport staff, with 6,000 staff accepting voluntary redundancy and 4,000 enforced job losses.
What are BA's restructuring plans?
British Airways and its owner, International Airlines Group,first mentioned major restructuring of staff in April, after revealing it wanted to cut up to 12,000staff. Like other airlines, the pandemic has hit BA hard, with the company posting losses ofmore than $900 million for the three months to the end of June. The airline doesn't expect the industry to recover fully until 2023.
On Friday, British Airways confirmed more than 10,000 workers will be made redundant after the airline suffered losses of $900m in the three months to the end of June. /AFP
What are they offering staff?
BA wants to create a single system for all its different crew divisions, which have been operating as separate units – with their own terms and conditions.
It says 6,000 staff across BA's business have applied for voluntary redundancy, while those who remain with the company will suffer pay cuts, and significant changes to their terms and conditions. The same could happen to engineers, ground and office staff.
Lower-paid staff who have joined since 2010, could get a modest salary increase, but long-serving crew members may have their salary cut by 20 percent.
What do the unions say?
Unions representing British Airways staff say BA's actions could lead to industrial action.
Len McCluskey, head of Unite says it's a "despicable" ploy.
Parliamentarians have also criticised BA. The Conservative MP, Huw Merriman, chair the transport select committee, compared the move to putting a gun to workers' heads.
The pilots' union BALPA has agreed a compromise with BA management by reducing the number of possible redundancies with significant pay cuts.
