MP MARION BACKS LOCAL AVIATION WORKERS

BA AND ROLLS-ROYCE ANNOUNCE REDUNDANCIES AND ‘FIRE AND RE-HIRE’ WITH REDUCED RIGHTS

This week, Motherwell and Wishaw MP, Marion Fellows, has defended workers of British Airways (BA) and Rolls-Royce (RR) and condemned the decision to sack hundreds at RR, and fire and re-hire thousands on contracts with reduced terms and conditions at BA.

BA have taken the decision to dismiss 12,556 of its workers and ‘fire and re-hire’ the remaining 42,000 on reduced contracts.

Likewise, RR have announced that 700 jobs will be cut by bosses at their Inchinnan plant.

Both have blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for a loss in business, but Mrs Fellows has written to BA and RR CEOs to call for bosses to engage with trade unions to minimise hardship.

Mrs Fellows, who is backing Unite the Union’s aviation campaign, has also written to the Prime Minister and UK Transport Secretary to call for them to intervene to protect the sector, jobs and incomes.

Commenting, Mrs Fellows said:

“The announcement from BA and Rolls-Royce to sack workers and reduce rights will unfairly hit their workers hard – especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bosses must engage with trade unions and the UK Government must intervene to support the aviation sector and jobs.

“BA is betraying its workforce. Their decision to fire and re-hire workers on reduced contracts is predatory and utterly despicable. BA bosses are putting profits before the welfare of its workers.

“The Scottish Government has invited RR to discuss how the plant and workers can be supported. RR must engage with the Scottish Government and trade unions to find a way forward to minimise hardship.

“The UK Government must roll up its sleeves and intervene to protect jobs by issuing the aviation sector deal they promised in March and follow the Scottish Government’s lead in giving the industry 100% business rates relief for a year.”