BA asks staff to work for nothing

This is astonishing.....

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British Airways boss Willie Walsh is asking his 40,000 staff to work for nothing to save the airline.

The astonishing plea comes as BA faces what Mr Walsh says is a 'fight for survival'.

The company has written directly to its 40,000 employees asking them to volunteer for up to four weeks of unpaid work.

Mr Walsh announced last week that he would work unpaid for the month of July - forgoing £61,000 in salary. His chief financial officer Keith Williams is also working unpaid for the month.

The appeal to staff goes much further than earlier requests for a pay freeze or unpaid leave.

It also undermines the unions with whom BA is negotiating a wider package of cost- cutting measures.

But it infuriated cabin crew. One said: 'BA now stands for "B***** all" because that's what they want to now pay us. That's the calibre of management we have at British Airways.'

Passengers face the threat of a summer of strikes as the airline goes into battle with unions this week for a deal to slash costs and sweep away what it sees as

restrictive practices. BA is understood to be seeking up to 4,000 job cuts - one in ten of the workforce - including 2,000 voluntary redundancies among the 14,000 cabin crew.

The call for unpaid work is set out in individual letters to staff, and in the BA in-house newspaper British Airways News under the headline Action Time.


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It says bluntly: 'Colleagues are being urged to help the airline's cash-saving drive by signing up for unpaid leave or unpaid work.

'From tomorrow, people will be able to opt for blocks of unpaid leave or unpaid work, with salary deductions spread over three to six months, wherever possible.'

'The new unpaid work option means people can contribute to the cash-saving effort by coming to work while effectively volunteering for a small cut in base pay.'

BA adds that the action 'will help minimise the financial impact on individuals, while helping to immediately save cash for the business'.

It denied that those who volunteer-for unpaid work will be given preference when any subsequent redundancies are considered.

British Airways planes on the tarmac at Heathrow Airport. BA ground staff have already rejected the company's proposals by six to one

The company is also asking staff to consider temporary or permanent part-time work, short-term unpaid leave of up to four weeks, or long-term unpaid leave of between one and 12 months.

Chief executive Mr Walsh said: 'I am looking for every single part of the company to take part in some way. It really counts. We face a fight for survival.

'These are the toughest trading conditions we have ever seen and there simply are no green shoots.

'Our survival depends on everyone contributing to changes that permanently remove costs from every part of the business.'

Mr Walsh has set a deadline of June 24 for employees to volunteer for unpaid work of one to four weeks. He has also set a deadline of June 30 for a deal with unions, who say he will impose terms if he cannot get prior agreement.
Mac

Leaders of all the main BA unions are meeting management this week for talks on permanent cuts on pay, conditions and the loss of up to 4,000 jobs.

The biggest conflict is with 14,000 cabin crew who are gearing up for a major showdown with Mr Walsh which - if it leads to industrial action and strikes - will mean chaos for tens of thousands of holidaymakers.

The Daily Mail has learned that BA ground staff have already rejected the company's proposals by six to one. Insiders say 2,987 voted No while only 487 backed the measures. One said: 'Even the groundstaff are squaring up to Willie for a strike.'

Pilots are also due to be balloted but are proving 'more flexible' and are even considering a pay cut.

BA has frozen pay and axed more than 2,500 jobs since last summer - including 780 management posts. It has revealed a record annual loss of £ 401million, which it blamed on rising oil prices adding almost £1billion to last year's fuel bill, and a major fall in passenger numbers.

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Work for nothing for a MONTH. Right.

Maybe For Willie it might be an affordable proposition but if pay scales for airline empolyees are anything like they are here in the US over in the UK as it is the dollar menu is a common part of your weekly diet working for the airlines.

I think in this day and age - I know it's hard, but - go without pay for a month or go without a job - that makes it not so difficult a choice.

There are many employees at many faced with this same choice. While taking a full month at once without pay is a bit unusual, I see many that are being asked to take one day without pay every two weeks (on an on-going basis) or lagging a week's pay. As Mark said, it's not an a choice between a cut in pay or a pink slip, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

A straight month with no pay is insane though. Most people cannot even feed themselves without a month's pay. At least one day a week or something doesn't starve people.

There was a story the other day that BA pays its cabin crew twice as much as Virgin and 50% more than easyJet. Therein lies the problem....BA does not charge double fares.

(Who knew VA paid such crap?)

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Data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) shows for the first time how much higher BA’s wage costs are than its rivals. The average salary for BA’s 14,000 cabin crew, including bonuses and allowances, is £29,900, compared with £14,400 at Virgin Atlantic and £20,200 at easyJet. BA’s pilots earn an average of £107,600, compared with £89,500 at Virgin and £71,400 at easyJet.

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http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/b ... 466748.ece

Thaqn file for bankruptcy and void out the union contracts. Re negotiate to a similar rate of other carriers in the nation. That is what all the vultures in the US do to get their cost in "line".

Didn't Mr Walsh try to do the same thing at Aer Lingus?