British Airways protest outside Eastbourne Town Hall

A protest against British Airways is taking place today (July 29) outside Eastbourne Town Hall.

Staff and residents gathered outside the building in Grove Road this morning to demonstrate against the airline’s treatment of workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Protest leaders Unite union are calling for Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell to speak out against British Airways’ (BA) plans to dismiss 42,000 staff and rehire 30,000 on what the union calls ‘inferior contracts’.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticised BA after it claimed taxpayer-funded furlough for 23,000 staff before announcing the 12,000 job cuts.

British Airways plans to cut 12,000 jobs as global air travel collapses

Unite executive officer Sharon Graham said, “Boris Johnson’s words of support for BA staff and his talk of ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’ is empty rhetoric unless the Government acts.

“There must be consequences for British Airways’ decision to press ahead with its plans to fire and rehire its workforce in the middle of the worst health crisis in a century.

“BA staff and constituents want to see action from Caroline Ansell. Public anger is growing and many MPs from across the political divide are already calling for a review of landing and take-off slots in response to BA’s project fire and rehire.”

Unite is also calling for a review of BA landing and take-off slots as a ‘consequence’ to BA’s actions.

Ms Graham said, “The company is essentially creating an unrecognisable airline – it should not automatically control over half the landing slots at Heathrow.

“It is simply wrong for BA to have privileged access to landing slots while its workforce is sacrificed for the benefit of shareholders.

“Boris Johnson needs to take back control from BA and fight for British jobs.”

A British Airways spokesperson said, “We are acting now to protect as many jobs possible. 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 work with us as our pilots’ union BALPA, is doing. Working together we can protect more jobs as we prepare for a new future.”

A number of BA staff live in Eastbourne, and MP Mrs Ansell said she has been lobbying the government and BA on her constituents’ behalf during this crisis.


She said, “I certainly have a great deal of sympathy with the plight of all airline employees – the industry has been and, continues to be, very badly affected by the pandemic.


“Presently, I’m working with my neighbouring MP Huw Merriman, who is chair of the Transport Select Committee, to find a way forward.

“I am of the view these workers have been badly treated and the company needs to reconsider its actions as I believe they have a responsibility as our national airline.”

But she said, “However, I’m not yet convinced that attempting to deprive BA of some of its landing and take-off slots will do much to allow the company itself to stabilise or be in a position to sustain jobs when the situation improves.”

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