Unite comment on BA's financial results
22nd May 2009
Unite, Britain and Ireland's largest trade union, representing
some 27,000 British Airways employees, has expressed concern at the
announcement today (Friday) by British Airways of the airline's
financial position.
Brian Boyd, Unite national officer for civil aviation, stated:
"The results recorded by British Airways are far worse than was
expected and show that this economic crisis appears to have taken
its toll, with a massive drop in the corporate business travel on
which BA so heavily depends.
"Unite has already been working with the company to find ways of
improving performance and at the same time securing guarantees for
our members' jobs. The seriousness of the company's current
financial situation is clear, and Unite will continue to seek
assurances on the substantive issues, which will no doubt unfold at
BA, such as the future of its pension fund."
Steve Turner, national secretary for aviation, said: “The
trading environment for British Airways, as for the aviation sector
as a whole, is tough right now, caused by both spiralling fuel
prices during the past year and an unprecedented downturn in air
traffic, particularly in BA’s premium market.
"Unite recognises this, but in any discussion on BA’s economic
performance we cannot forget that our members delivered the
company’s best ever operational performance now and record profits
last year.
"We have tabled proposals to defer wage costs until an upturn in
the company’s fortunes, and are in discussions with BA over further
measures that ‘share the pain’ of their current difficulties across
the entire business.
"We will continue to work with the company to find and implement
‘temporary solutions to temporary problems’. We will not, however,
undermine the long term protections and conditions secured by our
members over many years in response to an economic downturn that
will end.”
ENDS
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