British Airways wants free one-month's work from employees

17 June 2009

British Airways has appealed to its nearly 40,000 employees to work free for a month in July in order to keep the carrier afloat after suffering its worst loss since 1987. (See: British Airways post biggest ever loss since 1987)

UK's flagship airline British Airways (BA) sent this astonishing 'fight for survival' appeal through individual letters to all employees and in the BA in-house newspaper British Airways News under the headline Action Time stating, "Colleagues are being urged to help the airline's cash-saving drive by signing up for unpaid leave or unpaid work.''

The appeal from chief executive Willie Walsh comes after he announced last week that he would work for free during July, forgoing his salary of £61,000, which was then taken up by chief financial officer Keith Williams, who also announced the same.

Walsh wrote, ''I am looking for every single part of the company to take part in some way. It really counts. We face a fight for survival. These are the toughest trading conditions we have ever seen and there simply are no green shoots.''

The letter added, 'From tomorrow, people will be able to opt for blocks of unpaid leave or unpaid work, with salary deductions spread over three to six months, wherever possible.''

'The new unpaid work option means people can contribute to the cash-saving effort by coming to work while effectively volunteering for a small cut in base pay.''