BA workers reject cost-cutting plans

A mass meeting of British Airways workers has rejected the airline's plans to cut costs by axing thousands of jobs and freezing pay. More than 2,000 employees, including cabin crew, sent a "strong message" that they are not prepared to accept an "assault" on their pay, terms and conditions. The workers, meeting close to Heathrow Airport, also voiced concern that they could face the sack if they resisted the cuts by measures including industrial action. Negotiations have been taking place since a June 30 deadline to reach a deal on around 3,500 job cuts and a pay freeze passed without a deal. Union officials have warned of the threat of compulsory redundancies among some workers, including cabin crew. The union and staff talks came ahead of a meeting on Wednesday between BA and unions which will be chaired by conciliation service Acas. A union source said: "We believe BA is going through the motions with Acas and have a pre-arranged strategy for conflict. "They are looking at compulsory redundancies as part of 2,500 job losses among cabin crew. They are also looking to resurrect the hated zero hours contracts for customer service staff which led to the disastrous breakdown a few years ago." BA was hit by an unofficial strike in 2003 over terms and conditions, and suffered another bout of action in 2005 in a separate row over catering staff. Pay cuts were agreed with leaders of BA pilots last month, but talks continued for the past few weeks with unions representing other groups, including cabin crew, baggage handlers and check-in staff. Union leaders were angered last month when BA announced that almost 7,000 staff had applied for voluntary pay cuts, including 800 who said they will work unpaid for up to a month. Chief executive Willie Walsh, who has already announced that he will work unpaid for the month of July, said it was a "fantastic" response, adding: "I want to thank everyone who has volunteered to help us pull through this difficult period." Unions accused the airline's managers of bullying staff into signing up, a charge denied by BA. BA made losses of £401 million last year and is reportedly losing up to £3 million a day.

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ITN | July 6, 2009

Tags:. .fantastic. .applied. .voluntary. .compulsory. .axing