British Airways 'to axe thousands of cabin crew workers and rehire them on half the pay'

British Airways is reportedly planning to axe thousands of workers and rehire them on half the pay as it pushes through controversial new contract changes.

The airline, which has already confirmed plans to cut up to 12,000 roles, including 1,130 pilots, said it has entered consultation with colleagues.

In a letter sent to staff a fortnight ago, British Airways set out new terms and conditions on the back of the coronavirus pandemic.

It's now emerged that workers are also being sent redundancy notices - which are due to end on June 15.

BA's cabin crew is divided up into three parts - long haul (legacy), short haul (legacy), and a lower-paid, newer 'mixed fleet' who fly both long haul and within Europe.

However, the airline is reportedly now in talks to combine everyone into a single work group at a lower pay.

Senior long haul flight attendants based at London Heathrow will see pay cuts estimated to be between 50% and 75%.

And those who refuse to sign could be laid off.

Are you facing redundancy from BA? Get in touch: emma.munbodh@mirror.co.uk

Most senior crew – customer service managers – are currently on around £35,000, while some crew leaders – customer service directors – can earn up to £80,000 per year. Meanwhile, mixed fleet crew bring in between £23,000 and £28,000 annually.

Under the proposed terms, this could be streamlined to £24,000 for all.

"On 15th June, I will be made redundant from the job I love after 34 years of loyal service. Redundancy notices are to be issued to 43,000 of my colleagues: the entire workforce," one British Airways employee wrote on Facebook.

She said the airline is preparing to let go of workers and then rehire them back at a lower rate.

"31,000 lucky former employees will then be offered re-employment on a far inferior contract that the company has wanted to enforce since 2010. For me, this would represent a 60% pay cut."

A British Airways spokesman was unable to deny the allegations.

A British Airways statement said "We are acting now to protect as many jobs possible. The airline industry is facing the deepest structural change in its history, as well as facing a severely weakened global economy.

"We are committed to consulting openly with our unions and our people as we prepare for a new future."

The airline is already preparing to slash 12,000 jobs despite its owner handing out £3.6billion to shareholders in five years.

Sam Tarry, Labour MP for Ilford South, said: "They are going for older, legacy crew, people employed there 10, 20, 30 years. People have given their lives to this company... shareholders have done absolutely brilliantly out of it for a long time."

Unite's general secretary Len McCluskey accused BA of using the crisis as cover to slash jobs and pay.

He said: “No other employer has threatened to effectively 'fire and rehire' its entire workforce. Meanwhile, BA has paid billions to shareholders and taking taxpayers’ money.

"This is nothing more than a cynical act of corporate greed and a betrayal of the workforce and Britain."