{"id":22729,"date":"2020-07-15T16:11:13","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T15:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=22729"},"modified":"2020-07-16T12:50:40","modified_gmt":"2020-07-16T11:50:40","slug":"pm-grilled-over-british-airways-fire-and-rehire-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=22729","title":{"rendered":"PM grilled over British Airways’ fire and rehire plans"},"content":{"rendered":"
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British Airways workers and their supporters were delighted to see prime minister Boris Johnson today (July 15) grilled by Labour leader Keir Starmer over the airline\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s appalling fire and rehire plans, which would mean 30,000 workers will see their pay and conditions torn to shreds, while another 12,000 are to be permanently sacked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Unite has ramped up its #BABetrayal campaign, Starmer today (July 15) raised the plight of British Airways\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 workers, and called on the prime minister to act \u00e2\u20ac\u201c by withdrawing valuable landing slots from BA until they agree to reverse their plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I want to press the Prime Minister further on the situation at BA – a huge employer and the national flag carrier,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Starmer said at PMQs. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bAlongside the 12,000 redundancies already announced, BA is trying to force through the rehiring of the remaining 30,000 workers on worse terms and conditions. That’s totally unacceptable and it’s a warning shot to millions of other working people.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starmer highlighted an email the prime minister had sent to BA staff on June 2, in which he told them that he had \u00e2\u20ac\u015bmade it clear that firms should not be using furlough to cynically keep people on their books and then remove them or change their terms and conditions\u00e2\u20ac\u0165.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt’s now six weeks on,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 the Labour leader highlighted. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWill the Prime Minister now personally intervene and make clear that actions by those at BA cannot be allowed to stand without consequences for landing slots?\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnson refused to commit to revising British Airways’ landing slots, saying, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe cannot I’m afraid Mr Speaker simply with a magic wand ensure that every single job that was being done before the crisis is retained after the crisis.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Starmer then slammed Johnson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s indifference, noting in response, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe Prime Minister knows exactly what I’m talking about — it’s the rehiring of 30,000 people at BA on worse terms and conditions and he should call it out.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the government has so far failed to commit to any action against British Airways, today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s PMQs exchange has significantly ramped up the pressure and was hailed by Unite, MPs and British Airways workers and supporters themselves, who took to social media to applaud the Labour leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labour MP Jim McMahon welcomed today’s PMQs:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Speaking up for workers in aviation @Keir_Starmer<\/a> is rightly pointing out the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s failure after failure to protect the national interest and jobs #PMQs<\/a> <\/p>\n

Notwithstanding gov failure #BritishAirways<\/a> must do the right thing by their loyal staff. Stop changes to T&Cs now! pic.twitter.com\/dDAGOnXF0Q<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Jim McMahon MP (@JimfromOldham) July 15, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n