To think British Airways are treating their staff like shit in a crisis

[littleblackdress04]

BA announced that they are making 12,000 staff redundant last week but what they didn’t announce in the press is that they are also making the rest of their cabin crew redundant and reemploying the chosen few in terrible contracts. If they get sick, they will be sacked.

My friend has been worldwide crew for 25 years- she has a permanent contract and earns about 27k a year. She will, on the new contract, move to a zero hours contract on about 14k a year. She has 2 kids and a mortgage and shares childcare with her ex when she is flying. It’s not easy for her but she has always been proud to work for BA.

They used government furlough money to supposedly save their jobs and have now given them all 45 days notice. Only the chosen ones will be invited to apply for the 13k jobs.

Yes, it’s difficult times but is basically telly f staff with 25 years service to fuck off the behaviour of a decent company?

BA are currently buying another airline so they aren’t skint. They are using this as a chance to shaft loyal hardworking staff.

Aibu? (And is it even legal?)

Sadly many companies will need to reduce employee numbers. The travel industry is having to do this first, so it’s more in the press. It doesn’t make it right what they are doing, and if I had been loyal to an employer for that period of time, I too would be upset.

But BA is “skint” as are all airlines. I don’t think you realise how slim the profit margins are in the industry. Too, they have asked for a government bailout and the Spanish (who part own BA) are considering it.

The fact they have made 12,000 redundant and are changing employment contracts is a very good indication that the business is not financially sound.

It’s unrealistic to expect an airline whose passengers volume has decreased by 99% to be able to keep all staff on the job and need staff for the same number of hours.

So, it’s a shit situation, but it’s not BA being shitty.

But to use zero hours contracts is really shitty- no company needs to do that and then should be banned!

They're not telling staff with 25 years of service to fuck off though are they?

They are a company which no longer has customers. They no longer have flight routes. They can't afford the upkeep of the planes that are their business. They no longer need nor can afford their current staffing levels. What solution would you propose?

It is a company which, like all airlines, has very real risk of sinking. If they are still around after this they will be lucky.

I appreciate this is an emotive topic for you but I think you're failing to grasp the catastrophic reality of the situation for all airlines.

BA have been trying to do this for a decade too as it goes!

It’s made me realise more than ever that a job really is just a job. I have zero loyalty to any employer when they can furlough me, cut my pay and T&C’s or make me redundant at any time.

It's harsh but I think this is the reality a lot of people will be facing this year. There just won't be the demand for flights and cabin crew for quite some time yet. I would imagine all airlines (and plenty of other businesses) will be the same. The furlough scheme was to avoid the companies having to make their employees redundant but BA have obv realised when furlough runs out there will be no other options as they won't be operational. Hopefully the long term loyal staff will be prioritised when it comes to reemployment.

What would you suggest they do? If planes aren't flying they don't need staff and once the furlough ends they won't have any money to pay them.

Loads of people are losing their jobs, there's nothing special or magic about BA that means they should be any different.

@Lockheart but they are though- it’s a choice to do this properly or impose zero hours contracts! How can a parent with 2 kids continue to fly on a zero hours contract with no fixed rota?

In a couple of years when BA posts record profits again, their crew will still be on zero hour contracts. When the economy improves, who will want to work there when a job in a supermarket pays more with less lifestyle disruption and zero jet lag?

Customers in premium cabins can’t expect a first class service either.

@Birdie exactly- this isn’t about the crisis- it’s about imposing shitty contracts on staff and is hugely cynical

@littleblackdress04 some people prefer to be on a zero hours contract, many don't.

It's a way of being able to keep some staff in employment whilst trying to keep the company afloat by not paying more staff than they need at any one time. If they manage it and get back on track, they could rehire their staff on permanent contracts.

Bigger picture, OP. I'd rather my employer put me on a zero-hours contract temporarily than I lost my job (and career, given how specific being an air hostess is) entirely because the entire industry's gone south.

It would be great if large employers could be paternalistic but it's completely unreasonable to expect that at the moment

Zero hours contracts are the reality for lots of employees, it's hard on individuals but again, where do you think they would get the money from to keep paying staff?

It's probably a choice between do this and retain a business. Or fold and everyone will lose their job.

The longer this carries on, the more businesses will be folding.

There are plenty of companies that will be doing things like this under the guise of covid fallout. Of course the aviation industry is going to be catastrophically affected by this, but they aren't going to upgrade these new terrible contracts when they are back up in the air, and business is picking up again, are they? Absolutely no excuse for that, and they are probably hoping that people leave because of it but don't have to be included in their redundancy figures. Sadly as it is a desirable job there will be plenty of people willing to sign up to such rubbish conditions, and it's sad. I hope no one uses the companies that are treating staff like this when this is over.

That’s business 🤷🏻‍♀️ Must be pretty annoying for the new staff doing exactly the same job on the new contacts when the old staff have such a better deal too. Life changes.

I also know an air hostess on a really old and brilliant contract too. She’s gutted but accepting and surprised she got away with it this long!

@Lockheart there is so much in the media about how families have to go to food banks because of zero hours contracts- please don’t make out they are a lifestyle choice- they are a shitty way for employers to opt out of any security and decent conditions for their employees

@BirdieFriendReturns that's an interesting point. This is all very scary

For some they are lifestyle choice, @littleblackdress04. For many, they are not.

My friend is not BA either so I guess all airlines have these staff on old contacts. I also guess they’ll be glad to get rid of them and have them back for half the price.

This is not the only industry that suffers a down turn in wage. I earned more 15 years ago than I do now. Annoying but not “unfair”

BA have been desperate to get rid of WW for years and have replaced with mixed fleet crew as the natural attrition has run its course.

I'm surprised it's on any form of 'zero hour' contracts as even mixed fleet has up to now been a permanent post.

If people are being made redundant ( not furlong) the minimum amount to be paid can be found on www.gov.uk, it also depends on age
A company may choose to pay above the minimum amount

Honestly, all the people shrugging shoulders and saying ‘it’s business’ - this is why this country has such high poverty and such high numbers of families using food banks- because it’s profit above employee welfare. Using covid as an excuse is bullshit

I worked there when they were introducing mixed fleet cabin crew. What a mess. BA have got their wish. They won’t even have to pay sick pay now! Or parental leave. It’ll be a job that a teenager does for a year or so before moving on. What would be the point in working there, not knowing if you’re going to make £1000 that month or £0? Just sitting around waiting for a call from scheduling. Minimum rest downroute. They’ll probably reduce hotel quality too.

I joined BA as cabin crew to see the world. I was well paid - around £30k (over a decade ago). Worked hard onboard and had lots of fun too. The jet lag, fatigue, missing Christmas etc. I wouldn’t do that on a zero hours minimum wage contract.