The Campaign

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British Airways was once a strengths of a master, a powerful symbol of the country, the commercial skills, and - as the airline itself puts it - the "timeless British values and modern Britain".

Now, however, it is a company struggling in The Crisis , in order to cope with the enormous financial impact of the Corona-Virus-pandemic, its relationship with the government is broken, apparently, and In Conflict with its own employees.

There is No Question that the BA, like other airlines, has been greatly have affected by the blocking and closing of the borders in the context of the pandemic. For weeks, there are only a handful of flights A Day , while the majority of the fleet was parked.

But it is BA's response to The Crisis , created an atmosphere within The Company , the employees have described as toxic and led to a political counter-reaction.

IAG chief executive Willie Walsh: IAG wants to have a larger restructuring of the BA

In late April, its parent company, International Airlines Group announced plans for a major restructuring of the BA which could lead to up to 12,000 redundancies. He said it would start formal consultations with trade unions, Unite, GMB and Balpa.

to Start the process, BA said that there is an agreement on the Proposals - which are also significant changes in the conditions of the remaining employees wanted. But it warned that if an agreement could not be reached, it would force the question - that the notice of them, and offers them new contracts.

This apparent ultimatum has caused a bitter rift with the unions. Unite and GMB are currently refusing to take part in formal consultations. Balpa has said with The Company , But now that the negotiations are "hanging by a thread".

For Cabin Crew , it is not only the risk of redundancy, But also the prospect of big pay Cuts for the long-term employees - in some cases More Than 50%. Many of those affected believe that force, The Company with the current Crisis , due to the changes wanted to make it, for years.

A BA union, Unite, says BA is the Covid-19 Crisis , "permanent, drastic labour Cuts "

Longer-serving crew at BA have contracts, which, according to modern standards, relatively generous. They date Back To a Time when the airline industry was less hotly contested, before the emergence of budget airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet forced older airlines to reduce costs and change their business models.

In 2010, BA engaged in a bitter dispute with Unite over the plans for the overhaul of Cabin Crew contracts. The series lasted two years and involved 22 days of strikes. Ultimately, the settlement was reached, under the existing Staff be retained, most of their privileges, But were also new additions to inferior contracts and lower pay.

Now, Unite says BA is the Covid-19 Crisis as a cover, so "permanent, drastic Cuts to jobs, wages and working conditions", at a Time when industrial action is not an option. The Union is leading a high-profile campaign against what he calls The Company 's "betrayal" of its employees.

British Airways says it is "in the direction of the deepest structural change in its history,"

The Campaign collected some high-profile political support. A BA fiercest critics of The Conservative MP and Chairman of The Transport select committee, Huw Merriman is.

He says, the manner in which the employee has been treated to The Company "appalling". "It is the equivalent of holding a gun to someone's head," he says. "It is really sad to see an iconic brand is pulled into the gutter by management."

If the redundancy plans were announced for the first Time , Balpa came to the negotiating table. Initially, the companies will not threaten to "fire and rehire" pilots make, if you accept the new terms and conditions. But at The End of last week that Changed - and the pilots were given the same ultimatum the other employees were already.

According to Brian Strutton, General Secretary of Balpa, the move "felt like a Kick In The Teeth for Those People who had come, carrying out negotiations in Good Faith ". The Union is still talking with BA - But he says the negotiations are "hanging by a thread" and can break at any Time could.

a Few within the aviation industry expect a quick recovery

responded Now have a lot of pilots angry. A BA captain told The Bbc , "I would not say that there is a lot of trust in advance. There is even less now". Another described The Mood within The Company as "terrible".

"I am absolutely amazed by the huge wave Of Anger among our members," said Mr Strutton. "There is outrage and despair over The Way the management on which The Company , the loved you once, for the work".

A Number of pilots have also expressed concerns that the line could have an impact on the security, worried about their jobs and mortgages an unwelcome distraction for the pilots on the Flight Deck , and may have an impact on their Mental Health .

All of this has left BA as a company Under Siege . A lot Of Anger seems to be directed at Willie Walsh, the boss of parent company IAG, widely regarded as The Architect of the planned Cuts .

Quarantine rules "torpedo" the chances of the resumption of flights In July , says Mr. Walsh

The airline itself insists that the industry "in the direction of the deepest structural change in its history". He says it is to act now to protect as many jobs as possible and would like to work with The Trade unions, with which the effects of changes. Although the BA has significant cash reserves, it is burning currently by £20m Every Day - and with the majority of its fleet grounded, there is very little money.

It is also feuding with the government over the introduction of a 14-day Quarantine for travelers in the United Kingdom, which Mr Walsh says, has "torpedoed" the possibility of resuming flights In July .

Few within the industry expect a quick recovery. According to The International Air Transport Association Air Traffic is unlikely to return to the level of the last years up to 2023. Around The World , carriers are cutting Back and BA direct rivals such as Easyjet, Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic are all planning thousands of redundancies.

But what brands BA, the reaction to his actions, and the palpable resentment now directed to A Brand that once called national Pride .

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Source of news: bbc.com