Unite fears BA suffering identity crisis over moves to
introduce low-cost carrier charges
26 September 2009
Unite, the UK’s largest aviation union and the largest union
representing workers at British Airways, is today (Saturday)
accusing BA's management of suffering an identity crisis. It
comes as the airline's management announces that it will charge for
seat reservations, a move the union believes will tarnish the
carrier's image further and is yet another misguided attempt to
mimic the low-cost airlines.
Unite warns hefty charges - around £60 to book an aisle or
window seat - for passengers already paying premium prices wishing
to select seats on-line or to sit together as families will drive
customers away from BA.
Steve Turner, Unite national officer for civil aviation,
described the announcement as “complete madness from a management
team rapidly losing its way and undermining the proud standing of
British Airways as the UK’s national flag carrier.
“Unite is becoming increasingly frustrated with BA and its
attempts to address change in the industry by adopting the
practices of low cost carriers. Clearly, the management is
suffering an identity crisis. But BA’s market is not low
cost, it will never compete successfully in the low cost market and
it should not aspire to be a low-cost operator.
"BA's management is failing to recognise the extent of anger
felt by customers already annoyed by additional charges made by low
cost carriers. Customers ‘upgrading' to BA do not expect to see
add-on charges for seat allocation, baggage check-in, meals and
drinks.
"This is a mistake and a continuation of a misguided trend in BA
that is undermining the airline's standing both at home and
globally. Desperate measures, practices and tactics adopted by BA’s
senior management team and board are taking our airline in the
wrong direction. Even the Prime Minister opted to use another
carrier to fly to the G20 in the US, and not British Airways, the
UK’s national carrier and the only one with the union jack on its
tail."
Unite is frustrated with the slow pace of dialogue with, and the
erratic strategy adopted by, BA's management over measures to cut
costs during the economic downturn. Unite has repeatedly
warned that continued attacks on employee terms and the business
itself, coupled with unilateral changes to working practices, is
devastating morale and will bring further instability to the
airline as it struggles to meet the challenges of the
recession.
Despite these frustrations, Unite is continuing to work to find
a mutually acceptable way forward in on-going negotiations with the
company.
ENDS
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