Musn't grumble: British Airways asks staff to work for free
Filed under: Shopping, Transportation, Career
As if working on an airplane -- whether serving drinks, flying the plane or fixing it, among other jobs -- wasn't hard enough, now British Airways is urging its staff to work for free to help the company save money.British Airways chief Willie Walsh says he won't take a salary for the month of July, and is urging others to work for blocks of time without being paid, according to an Associated Press story.
"I am looking for every single part of the company to take part in some way in this cash-effective way of helping the company's survival plan. It really counts," Walsh said in a company publication.
I used to work in an industry that was losing money -- newspapers -- and I was laid off before furloughs and other money-saving methods were instituted. Many workers in that industry are expected to work overtime without pay, especially early in their careers.
In an industry that is trying to end low fares, which may lead to fewer bookings, I don't see how an airline can get away with asking its workers to work for free during a stretch of time. Aren't airline employees -- who have your safety in their hands -- people who you want to be well paid and attentive while on the job?
While they're professionals, I expect that any time spent working without pay could lead to lapses or not caring as much about the work they do. Think about it. If your boss asked you to work for free, how much effort would you put into your work during that time? Would you go the extra mile?
It amounts to a pay cut for BA employees who go with the option. BA has said that the lost income would be spread out over several months.
No matter how it's described -- as a pay cut or working for free -- the airline's employees will still be working the same amount of hours for less pay. That option may be fine for highly-paid British Airways executives trying to help make up a $595 million loss in the year ending March 31, but for the everyday worker, it's something they can't afford.
Before British Airways workers start trying to figure out how to deal with a pay cut, you may want to consider tipping your flight attendant, pilot and mechanic before taking off. The skycaps should be able to break a large bill into some change for you.
The free work won't start until July 1, because BA workers have until June 24 to decide if they'll work for free during part of July. So you have a few more weeks before deciding if you want to brave the now rather more disgruntled skies.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-17-2009 @ 6:18AM
James said...
want a butch of low life scum, worker people on low wages, have given up too much already.
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6-16-2009 @ 6:13PM
BELLCORD said...
SOUNDS LIKE HEAVEN ON A STICK TO THE REPUBS....THE PERFECT STATE OF CAPITALISM.....THE DREAM REALIZED....SLAVE LABOR !!!...stiff upper lip Brits...
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6-17-2009 @ 5:46PM
Diana said...
Funny how politics comes into play. This isnt even about America, or Americas political divisions. This is BRITISH AIRWAYS. Yeah. Understand this, too...The Obamas were talking about EVERYONE having to share "a piece of the pie". This is what they were talking about, you know. Everybody chipping in...rolling their sleeves up and volunteering...Does any of this sound familiar to you? Thats a Democrats ideal. Everybody sharing of their time, and money. Putting their piece of the pie on the table for others to take. Unfortunately, the problem with that is the fact that one soon runs out of pie when they keep on giving. Food, clothing, rent, or mortgage is too expensive (all over the world) to be working for free for even part of a month. The British Airways employees, just like any other employee on the planet, that is employed anywhere, must pay their bills. How are they supposed to do that in this increasingly expensive world? And the precedent will be set for this to happen again, if they agree to this. Good luck, to BA employees, whatever they decide.
6-17-2009 @ 3:46PM
Evelyn said...
Well it isnt in America people. I am NOT a person who is for unions etc. But--I do think this is VERY unfair. I think everyone should get paid for doing their job. If they were not working--that would be one thing. But to think someone would work for free--I think they have lost their minds.
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6-17-2009 @ 4:09PM
Phil Bittle said...
Then perhaps you should reconsider your anti-union stance. Remember, not one single benefit that labor has even gotten ... anywhere ... anytime ... has been a "gift" from management ... rather strong Unions, good governmental policies and brutal strikes in necessary ... people literally died for what precious few benefits Americans have in the workplace!
6-17-2009 @ 3:56PM
jack said...
http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=cal10pilot ...
this is part of the barry 'volunteer' time..... sound familiar? typical liberal thinking.
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6-17-2009 @ 4:02PM
Orland Foulks said...
A CEO is a person who has a talent for finding spare change hidden in the crack of the worker's backside. Wake up America. That is why we had unions. These CEO's will not stop until they sell your children to China.
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6-17-2009 @ 4:44PM
Bob said...
hmmmmm....look at the military....we didn't work for free, but sometimes because of the extensive hours, we worked for much less per hour. Semper Fi
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6-17-2009 @ 5:01PM
bev said...
I wonder if the ceo s of these companies would be willing to give up part or all of their money for a while???????????
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6-17-2009 @ 5:01PM
Evelyn said...
Yes--some have died --for what they belived in. OR some have died because goons from a union killed them I KNOW this happens--maybe not in all unions--but it sure did in Florida--because MY stepfather had to testify againest a union that he had been a member of for over 30 years--and then have to fight for his pension from them when he was in his 60s, and loose just about everything he had. Until they finally ended up in court.
Unions have done alot for the workers of america. But--they have also hurt alot of people. They locked my step father in a crain and beat the hell out of a man who refused to join the union. No--no one can make that right. He died because of his injuries. And my step father just about lost his mind because he believed in the union. But also belived that everyone had a right to make choices--some may be wrong. But--they had to make them. My 2 year old baby brother was in the frount yard one day--and lucky for us all-someone made a call to my step father--and told him to get that little son of a bitch out of the frount yard--or he would be dead. He ran out--grabbed my brother--and his Van blew up just as he got in the house. No one has a right to do that to anyone. No matter what they belive in.
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6-17-2009 @ 5:44PM
jerry said...
I am in the woodworking machinery industry, a 300 Billion dollar a year industry that has seen sales drop by 90+% in 18 months. Like car sales, etc, we have literally been wiped out by the current economy.
Mfrs are doing everything they can to survive, and still dropping like flies.
Mfrs in this industry have resorted to this same tactic to try to reduce layoffs, and keep people (and their knowledge) while they try to survive this, and it's been working (so far).
I guess you have to ask yourselves if you'd rather see your friends, family, and co workers laid off, so your own life isn't effected by the realities of the current world economic situation, or if you are willing to participate in order to try to keep that from happening???
Our industries cannot survive losing all of their skilled help, and skilled help is the easiest place to make larger cuts.
I hope all of you are surviving ok, many of us are struggling beyond belief, and yet are still willing to try to keep as many of our friends and families employed as we can.
The option is being ward's of the state, which increases taxes, burdens, etc.
We will soon see a dramatic portion of our over 50 employees out of work. Where would you see them all go?
Whatever happened to the team philosophy, and people trying to help others survive, and not just pursuing their own singular interests?
Greed got us here, haven't you figured that out???????
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6-17-2009 @ 6:16PM
JANET said...
THIS AIRLINE SNIFFS WAY TO MUCH AIRPLANE GLUE.
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6-17-2009 @ 6:48PM
jack said...
we should ask ALL government workers to do the same.... since they produce NOTHING. they invent NOTHING. they suck the life out of every tax payer..... but not for long. there won't be any tax payers left when we 'all work for nothing.'
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6-17-2009 @ 7:03PM
curious said...
Willie...sell everything you have to cover expenses including wages.....oh, and I've got something for free that you can suck on.
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6-17-2009 @ 7:06PM
parducchi said...
does the CEO work for free? I think not. They make so much money they don't even know what to do with. I think that they should give part of their salary to the airline workers
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6-17-2009 @ 7:20PM
Kevin said...
I can just hear the stewardess now. Would you like a small bag of suck my arse with your sprite sir? They are not going to have a good attitude at all. They should get sued for even asking anyone to work for free.
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6-17-2009 @ 7:30PM
jeff1knowles said...
Thank OFool and all his union endorsements!!
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6-17-2009 @ 7:36PM
michael said...
Okay, sure... let's all help by doing our part if the company is going down. But, fire the turds that were being paid to run the company, the ones that were being paid to do their job in the first place. The CEO's, CFO's, etc. why punish the very hard workers that get paid for working? The execs' job is to make sure the company is together in its entirety, and if it isn't, she/he or they have failed! FIRE THEM!!!
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6-17-2009 @ 7:48PM
RP said...
As bad as the BA suggestion sounds, it's been a common tactic in the retail industry for years, but in a less honest way. Here's how it works:
1. The Company instructs store/deparment managers, in writing, to make sure they follow the law and accurately record worker's time.
2. The Company then tells store/department managers that they will be scored on "performance", most of which is tied to a ratio between sales and worker's cost. Since store or department managers have no control over the economy, store location, brands, pricing, or sales, the only thing the can control is their worker's pay scale and hours worked.
3. Store/Department managers keep employee's recorded hours just under the amount where they would qualify for any benifits. Managers who allow workers to record hours which would qualify for overtime pay are subject to severe discipline.
4. Store/Department managers are informed that the "top-performing" managers will be eligible for promotion, and that the "underperforming" managers will be fired. Managers soon learn that the company regularly (annually) fires 1/4 to 1/3 of the managers on bottom of the companies list.
5. The only way to keep off the bottom of the list is for the store/deparment manager to cut worker's payable hours. The most common tactic is simply to let employees know that only those who show the proper "initiative" and "company spirit" will keep their jobs - which are code words for working off-the-clock, unpaid. The worker records his scheduled time, but comes in early for department meetings, to stock the shelves before the store opens, works through breaks and lunch, then stays late to clean up afterwards, close the tills, break down incoming freight, etc. - all "off the clock".
6. When an employee inevitably complains to the authorities about the unpaid work time, the company first blames the employee. They point out that the company manual prohibits working overtime or falsifying time sheets, and allege that the worker was doing it against explicit instructions and threats of discipline. If enough workers in the same department come forward to complain for that tactic not to work, then the company casts off the store manager as dead weight, alleging that he was acting in an unauthorized manner, and they will fire him. The workers will eventually get a settlement for less than what is owed, the company a small fine. The workers will receive less-than-enthusiastic references to future employers (i.e., "not a team player, not eligible for re-hire".)
7. But everyone knows that the system is rigged so that unless the workers work off-the-clock, either they will be fired, or their store manager will be fired. In quite a few cases the workers end up making well below minimum wage, on an hourly basis. Only the company executives who create this climate manage to get off scott-free, being portrayed as "tough, effective managers".
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6-17-2009 @ 8:06PM
L.Borja said...
Alot of companies in the good old USA try all kinds of tricks to get their employees to work for free. Wal-Mart was in the news, remember! I worked for nursing homes that gave you 10 to12 hours of work to do in 8 hours. That's 8 hours if you pass up your breaks. After years of this I finally stopped clocking out at the end of my shift and finishing my work. I made them pay for it. Other nurses clocked out and were there an extra 2 to 2 1/2 hours for free. Naturally I was on their shit list from then on. I was told I was unorganized and lazy. I worked my butt off.
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