British Airways faces 'immediate' strike threat from Unite union - Daily Mail

British Airways faces 'immediate' strike threat as Unite union warns of walk out over plans to cut 12,000 jobs threatening yet more holiday chaos

• Unite claims BA has 'published a timetable to fire and rehire' staff on August 7 
• Union suggests BA's Spanish chief 'doesn't understand British sense of fair play'
• It comes as the UK Government advised against all but essential travel to Spain 
• BA has used furlough schemes and accessed £300million of Government loans 
• BA has also gone on huge job-cutting plan having said it would axe 12,000 roles

By Mark Duell for MailOnline

Published: 12:23 BST, 28 July 2020 | Updated: 12:35 BST, 28 July 2020

British Airways today faced an 'immediate' strike threat from union bosses over job cuts amid fears over further travel chaos to families trying to plan a holiday abroad.

Unite leader Len McCluskey claimed BA chief executive Alex Cruz had 'published a timetable to fire and rehire thousands of your workforce on August 7'.

Mr McCluskey also told how MPs and newspapers alike have condemned the actions of the Spanish boss, adding: 'Perhaps you don't understand that the British sense of fair play runs deep in the psyche of the British people.'

It comes as the UK Government advised against all but essential travel to Spain after the emergence of a second wave of coronavirus in parts of the country. 

BA has so far used state furlough schemes, accessed £300million of UK Government loans and retired its fleet of 747 jumbo jets earlier than planned.

The carrier, owned by International Airlines Group, has also gone on a huge job-cutting plan, having originally said it would axe up to 12,000 roles.

A fleet of British Airways Boeing 747 standing at London Heathrow Airport (file picture)

Unite leader Len McCluskey (left) wrote to British Airways chief executive Alex Cruz (right)

It struck a deal with its pilots union last week to make fewer people redundant - 270 down from plans for 1,250 redundancies - in return for other staff taking pay cuts. 

In the letter released yesterday, Mr McCluskey said he had himself received a letter from Mr Cruz on Sunday but was 'both staggered and offended' by his arrogance.

Airlines are refusing to cancel flights to Spain despite Government advising against all but essential travel

Airlines are refusing to cancel flights to Spain – despite the Government advising against all but essential travel.

The move puts hundreds of thousands of British families in limbo and at risk of losing thousands of pounds. It also puts the airline industry at odds with the UK Government by ignoring a public safety edict.

The Government issued the travel warning after the emergence of a second wave of coronavirus in parts of Spain.

Customers would normally expect travel firms to cancel the flights and offer refunds. But all the major carriers, which have suffered massive losses following the collapse of air travel, have snubbed the Government and continue to offer the flights.

This means families will potentially lose their holidays and their money.

People could ignore the Government and take their flights. But they would have to quarantine for 14 days when they get back and their travel insurance may be void.

Alternatively, they could cancel their trip without any guarantee of a refund. British Airways and easyJet have suggested they will offer vouchers for future flights, rather than a refund, for those who cancel.

Ryanair has refused to offer anything. It even suggested people who changed their flights could incur charges of up to £95 per person.

The Civil Aviation Authority said there was nothing it could do to ensure those with a flight-only booking got a refund. It suggested they claim money back from a travel insurance policy, but most insurers have clauses that reject any claims linked to coronavirus.

 

Advertisement

The union boss wrote: 'In the opening paragraph you state "it has taken this long for you to realise and accept this".

'This reference infers that I am only now understanding the financial difficulties that British Airways face. How dare you suggest such a thing. 

'I have attempted for months to try to get you to understand the need to treat your workers with respect and dignity and this is the only way to get through this pandemic together.

'It is your staff, not you, that have for many years, built the good name of British Airways and contributed billions of pounds to its profitability year on year.'

Mr McCluskey added that Mr Cruz and his management team had 'dragged the good name of British Airways through the mud'.

The union leader continued: 'Have you ever asked yourself why so many MPs from all parties, at the highest level, have condemned British Airways or why newspaper and media outlets have been appalled at your actions?

'Perhaps you don't understand that the British sense of fair play runs deep in the psyche of the British people.'

Mr McCluskey added: 'My shop stewards and reps speak to members constantly, dealing with the stress, anxiety and heart ache caused by your management style and strategy.

'Instead of criticising Unite reps, you should actually listen to them, instead of pretending to do so in order that you can tick some consultative process box and you might, at long last, realise that the only way to have a lasting peace and avoid months/years of industrial unrest is to work with us to achieve an acceptable way forward.

'You have now published a timetable to fire and rehire thousands of your workforce on August 7. We will work every hour between now and then, to convince you not to do so.

'You can take this letter as our commitment to do that. However, you can also take this an intention to defend our members by moving towards industrial action with immediate effect.'

British Airways has been contacted for comment by MailOnline today. 

It comes after £1.5billion was wiped off the value of Britain's leading travel companies yesterday as quarantine chaos and fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections shook markets.

Investors dropped shares in airlines and tour operators after the Government removed Spain from the quarantine-free list with just a few hours' notice.

Thousands of holidaymakers cancelled trips to Spain as well as countries such as France and Germany amid concerns they could be next.

A British Airways Boeing 747 is seen at London Heathrow Airport earlier this month on July 17

In the letter released yesterday, Mr McCluskey said he had himself received a letter from Mr Cruz on Sunday but was 'both staggered and offended' by his arrogance

At the same time Ryanair sounded the alarm over a deadly second wave hitting later this year during the flu season.

IAG fell 5.9 per cent, Ryanair was down 3.9 per cent, Easyjet lost 8 per cent, Jet 2 owner Dart dropped 8.5 per cent and Wizz Air sank 4.5 per cent.

At the same time, Britain's biggest tour operator Tui fell 11.4 per cent lower while cruise operator Carnival fell 8.4 per cent.

IAG has lost around 70 per cent of its value on the stock market this year, while Tui has lost 68 per cent, Easyjet 62 per cent and Ryanair 28 per cent.

The pandemic came at a time the industry was already strained due to concerns over fierce competition and low consumer confidence.

In March regional carrier Flybe went bust and in September last year Thomas Cook collapsed stranding 150,000 UK holidaymakers abroad. 

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMib2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODU2Nzg3OS9Ccml0aXNoLUFpcndheXMtZmFjZXMtaW1tZWRpYXRlLXN0cmlrZS10aHJlYXQtVW5pdGUtdW5pb24uaHRtbNIBc2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODU2Nzg3OS9hbXAvQnJpdGlzaC1BaXJ3YXlzLWZhY2VzLWltbWVkaWF0ZS1zdHJpa2UtdGhyZWF0LVVuaXRlLXVuaW9uLmh0bWw?oc=5

2020-07-28 11:23:42Z
52780958355725