By Sammie Jones-
Employees at Britain’s busiest airport have been threatened with the sack unless they accept voluntary pay cuts during the coronavirus pandemic.
Thousands of staff this week were told by Heathrow’s human resources that “dismissal and reinstatement might be the final step” for anyone not choosing to take a 15% pay reduction. Paula Stannett, the airport’s chief people officer, said: “We are looking for everyone to play their part and are not expecting anyone to opt out, other than those who are leaving us very shortly through redundancy.”There will be consequences if colleagues do not accept the revised terms as it will mean that we have to make further job cuts.
“It will also have consequences for those colleagues who do not wish to participate.”Heathrow has already imposed a 10% pay cut on unionised staff, and is planning to make roughly a quarter of its senior managers redundant. “my proposal is that we should offer furlough followed by voluntary severance for colleagues who do not want to take a pay reduction”
“Obviously that is something I am keen to avoid, although I can confirm that is an option that is legally available to the company to take.” Business at the airport has been hot heavily by the coronavirus pandemic. Heathrow reported a significant fall in passenger numbers in February and March, and said demand continued to decline.
A heathrow spokesperson said;
“Heathrow is prioritising the protection of jobs while working to keep Britain’s front door safely open for people requiring repatriation and vital medical supplies needed during this crisis,” the spokesperson said.
“It is only right that similar pay reductions are taken on by everyone in the business as we fight to ringfence as many jobs in the future and play our part in protecting as many colleagues as possible.”
Heathrow workers have already been subjected to a 10% cut and 1 in 4 senior mangers are facing redundancy. The UK government is considering airline bailouts on a case by case basis, but has not specified any packages of measures to support the airports themselves. However, it has made available a number of business loans as well as the facility for employers to claim back up to 80% of employee wages if they are unable to work at the present time.