North East MPs join protesters calling for review of landing slots over British Airways 'fire and rehire' claims

Several MPs in the region have signed a pledge calling for the Government to review UK landing slot legislation.

Campaigners staged a protest outside the British Airways call centre at Bamburgh Court in Newcastle city centre on Friday, July 10.

They were joined by South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck, Chi Onwurah MP for Newcastle and Liz Twist MP for Blaydon.

Jarrow MP Kate Osborne and MP for Wansbeck, Ian Lavery have also signed the Unite pledge, which states that if the company continues to ‘attack its own workforce’ the Government will amend slot regulations to ‘end the current form of allocation including legacy or grandfather rights’.

The Unite union claims British Airways is the only company proposing to fire all its 42,000 staff and re-hire those that survive on worse pay and inferior terms and conditions.

Kate Osbourne said: “Unite and the Labour Party understand that this is a difficult time for the aviation sector, but that is no excuse for the way in which British Airways are treating their loyal staff. British Airways is a hugely profitable company, the airline is able to withstand this temporary situation and has benefited from tax-payers’ money through the Government's furlough scheme. We urge British Airways to work with the Government and unions to find a solution to this temporary crisis.”

While Ian Lavery added: “It is vitally important that BA’s favourable slot allocation is reviewed by the government and I am pleased to see Unite taking a firm lead on this.”

In response to the claims, a British Airways spokesman said: “We are acting now to protect as many jobs as possible. The airline industry is facing the deepest structural change in its history, as well as facing a severely weakened global economy.

“We call on Unite and the GMB to consult with us on our proposals as our pilot union, Balpa, is doing. Working together we can protect more jobs as we prepare for a new future.”

They added that it was in a period of consultation, so no final decisions have been made.

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