Message to FSW from
Unite 
Dear Alex,
Great to hear from you! It’s been a while and all of us in the “close knit BA family” were beginning to wonder how you were coping during the lockdown.
Obviously with your bombshell letter the answer is very well indeed and we can see that the lockdown has certainly kept you busy on the “inspirational leader” front!
Not sure if you know, but most of us are furloughed and having to manage on 80% of our pay, but we want you to know we were okay with that as we all wanted to play our part in helping the airline pull through this unprecedented time. But, hey! Great idea of yours to get us all gradually used to being made redundant and/or our wages being permanently reduced via a Redundancy Mitigation Programme. Obviously, a bit confused that we are being made redundant during it, but that’s probably only a technicality which will be fully addressed in short order via a Waterside flip chart.
Also, great news that everyone in the close knit IAG family is also sharing an equal share of the necessary pain, not just British Airways. Although we did check with them all and no other part of the group had actually been informed of any such drastic cuts and had no idea what we were talking about. Iberia seemed to have even received a Government aid package applied for by IAG to avoid any redundancies . But again, understandable as communication is difficult in these extraordinary times and no doubt they will be receiving the equivalent of your uplifting letter shortly.
Obviously your letter was just a mere postcard from the frontline of good news and again, a great idea that the managers responsible for each area were then able to fully inform us (several hours after the press had already done so) that people were losing their jobs. Everyone will appreciate that kind of personal touch and it can make all the difference during these difficult times.
We weren’t initially sure that any of this is in line with the intended spirit of the Government’s Job Retention Scheme. (think the hint is in the title there!) On the surface, avoiding seeking help from the Government and/or working with your trade unions to instead drive through
long held cost-cutting agendas, could appear to some as cynically opportunistic. However, although every other airline in the world has sought help, (yeah right, what do they know?) but after your letter we think we can be confident that you have made not only the right call, but also taken the right moral position.
... Just a couple of minor concerns with the grand plan. Doesn’t making people redundant (when there are clearly no other jobs to be found) and at the exact same time as you wish to dispense with the Redeployment Agreement, place an even greater long term burden on the great British tax payer? Something, we saw from your letter you were keen to avoid.
Also, slashing the terms and conditions of those that remain might - just might - create a bitter, toxic environment, whereby disenfranchised and disillusioned staff no longer care or feel part of the airline, and that by having nothing to lose will ultimately damage any longer term recovery. Particularly when they find out you have deliberately avoided telling them that you have already served legal notice to make them all redundant! Clearly, you’ve got another cunning plan (or should we say slide presentation) up your sleeve to convince us that even when all this comes out we should continue to feel valued by British Airways, indeed as per the recent PR espousing the values of the British Airways family, whilst offering public reassurance during the Corona Virus crisis proves, we truly are all in this together. Well, at least while we still have a job (obviously).
Best wishes and hoping to hear from you again soon. In the meantime, there is an online petition from Change.org circulating, we’d really appreciate your signature and support.
<<<Click to Sign & Share>>>
Best regards,
Your loyal staff
When all else fails, read the instructions.
