BA Asks Its Staff To Work For Nothing

[efq]

British Airways is asking its 40,000 staff to work for nothing.

British Airways admits it is effectively asking staff to take a pay cut

Chief executive Willie Walsh said he was making the appeal because the company was in a "fight for survival".
BA has asked its staff to work for between one week and one month without wages.
The company stressed that the staff's decision whether to take them up on the offer was entirely voluntary.
But it comes as the airline looks to slash 2,000 jobs.
The appeal was made in a letter to staff and through the in-house newspaper British Airways News.


Mr Walsh said he was effectively asking staff to take a pay cut.
Under the headline Action Time, the article read: "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 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."
Mr Walsh said he would forgo his wages in July, worth a reported £61,000, after the company announced a record £401m pre-tax loss in May.
The Transport and General Workers' Union reacted with anger to his call.

Mr Walsh is working for nothing in July

"Mr Walsh can afford to work for free but our members cannot," a union spokesman said.
GMB general secretary Paul Kenny dismissed the call as 'not serious'.
"I do not think suggestions like that are really serious," he said.
"There has got to be a much longer term (solution). We cannot keep having a month off or a month of unpaid just to get the company out of the jam."
He added:"There are already quite a lot of low paid people at BA - not everyone is a chief executive.
"BA is in a very, very serious position, so no one is joking about this."
And those using the Professional Pilots Rumour Network were also unimpressed.
"The CEO who is giving up one month's salary is nothing but a drop in the ocean. But the guys on 18K-24K would see 200 quid a month out of their wages for 6 months!" wrote Betpump5.


Staff have until June 24 to register their interest and follow their boss' example.
"There will be further opportunities to apply, but I urge you to take action now," said a letter to staff from Andy Lord, director of operations.
BA is looking to cut 4,000 jobs, including 2,000 voluntary redundancies among the 14,000 cabin crew, as it strives to save cash.
It is also asking staff to consider temporary or permanent part-time work or unpaid leave of between four weeks to a year.

Who bets on a strike? I feel there might be.

[Technologic]

There won't be a strike, people will take up the offer because it's that or losing their jobs because of downsizing or all-out bankruptcy

[Charli]

i have no sympathy for the suits. its the big ceo's of these companies who sit on huge salaries that have made the mistakes. the workers shouldnt have to pay the price (no pun intended -.-). seriously though.. i think it's wrong. i hope the unions that support them can make a difference because its a horrible position to be put in. they arent slaves and they have to support themselves financially somehow.

[Technologic]

Shall i repeat my last post?

[xxMATTGxx]

It was bond to happen for British Airways They are really doing bad compared to other airlines. Good luck to all the workers.

[BeanEgg]

They are only humans. In addition not everyone chooses to fly because of the economy, which is BA's loss. Not their fault? Planes are sometimes also forced to fly with empty seats. Losing profit due to fuel.

Also, no one said they are being forced to work for free. This is just voluntary, the CEO won't be affected much of a month's salary, but it will help.

Also: What is better? 1000 people made redundant or a workforce of 30'000 giving up a months wages? If the average salary of those 30'000 was £20K, then 30000 giving up a months wages makes £50m.

[efq]

There won't be a strike, people will take up the offer because it's that or losing their jobs because of downsizing or all-out bankruptcy

So how are these people going to cope for this months payment? The people there going to have to pay going to go 'nah don't worry about this months payment'. No they won't. Nor with BA help them with it.

[GommeInc]

So how are these people going to cope for this months payment? The people there going to have to pay going to go 'nah don't worry about this months payment'. No they won't.

Kick 'em out on the street then. Either work for nothing or get another job reallym until BA balance their books.

[GommeInc]

So how are these people going to cope for this months payment? The people there going to have to pay going to go 'nah don't worry about this months payment'. No they won't. Nor with BA help them with it.

Kick 'em out on the street then. Either work for nothing or get another job reallym until BA balance their books.

[efq]

Kick 'em out on the street then. Either work for nothing or get another job reallym until BA balance their books.

That's what I was thinking, just get a job until BA sort it out. Because it will cause a lot of money problems for the 40,000 if they rely on that payment.