Glasgow mum worried for future following proposed 65% pay cut from British Airways
The woman, who doesn't want to be named, says her family life will completely change if she's moved onto the proposed new contract.
Last updated 29th May 2020
A Glasgow mum who works for British Airways is speaking out following the airline's plans to make thousands of staff members redundant - and re-employee the rest on new contracts.
British Airways announced last month it'll be making at least 12,000 redundancies in the company, and there are proposed plans to rehire the remaining 30,000 on new contracts.
Currently, the airline has five different contract types: Gatwick, London City, Euro fleet, worldwide, mixed fleet.
We've seen emails which suggest the proposals being made are for only two new contract types: cabin crew and manager, and would involve pay cuts for up 65% for some workers.
A worker from Glasgow, who didn't wish to be named, said: "Name me a company that the person that's been in there over 30 years is on the same pay scale as the person that's just started at the bottom.
"I can't imagine there's any company where somebody that has been in for that length of time that is on the same pay scale as the 17 or 18 year old that's coming in to do the same job.
"Financially, I literally couldn't afford to go to work.
"I wouldn't have enough money in my bank account at the end of the month to pay my bills, to put my children through university - I'd possibly lose my house.
"It would be devastating - absolutely devastating.
"I feel sick to the pit of my stomach. I feel betrayed, I feel let down.
"I feel that all the times and all the sacrifices I've made over time - even just little things like staying behind in an aircraft because you've got somebody that's lost or somebody that's waiting for a wheelchair - your time's finished, you're clocked off - you're not earning any more money."
Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey said: "We cannot tolerate BA using this crisis as cover to impose a long term plan to slash jobs, pay and conditions. No other employer has threatened to effectively ‘fire and rehire’ its entire workforce.
"Meanwhile, BA has paid out billions to shareholders and its taking taxpayers' money. Over 40,000 loyal BA staff now face the prospect of losing either their livelihoods or potentially being re-interviewed for their own jobs on vastly reduced terms and conditions.
"If the proposals were about dealing with the Covid crisis why are the company threatening to terminate contracts, including eliminating disciplinary procedures? This will not help the company get through Covid 19. This is nothing more than a cynical act of corporate greed and a betrayal of the BA workforce and Britain."
In a statement, British Airways said: "We are acting now to protect as many jobs possible. The airline industry is facing the deepest structural change in its history, as well as facing a severely weakened global economy.
"We are committed to consulting openly with our unions and our people as we prepare for a new future."
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