British Airways said it
could fire all its pilots in a row over redundancies with its union. The
airline said on Sunday that it could consider terminating the appointment of
its 4,300 pilots and rehire some again on less than desirable contracts in the
future. The airline announced that it is experiencing one of the worst periods
in its history as the pandemic decimates travel demand.
In a heated discussion
with the British Airline Pilots Association BALPA, British Airways said that
it could fire the entirety of its pilot base amid disagreements on
redundancies.
BA hopes to be
able to reduce the figure of its employees to be able to cope with the impact
of the coronavirus. BALPA has been steadily working on an agreement for BA
pilots.
It is a decision that
does not sit well with BALPA. However, British Airways
feels pressured to cut costs where it can in order to restart operations. It
warned that all 4,300 pilots could lose their jobs, with some being rehired on
individual contracts. A spokesperson for the airline confirmed that no final
decisions had been made. However, legal consultation is due to cease on July
18th.
British Airways backed
up its claims saying it was only taking the necessary action to protect as many
jobs as possible. Like many airlines, the corona virus has caused quite a stir
for routine operations.
In a statement to Simple
Flying, British Airways said,
“We are acting now to protect as many as possible jobs. The airline industry is facing the deepest structural change in its
history, as well as facing a severely weakened global economy. We call on
Unite and GMB to consult with us on our proposals as our pilot union, BALPA, is
doing. Working together we can protect more jobs as we prepare for a new
future.
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