(Recasts, adds Unite details)
LONDON, June 11 (Reuters) - British Airways will sell at
least 10 works of art that normally hang in its executive
lounges, a source said, turning to pieces by famous artists like
Damien Hirst to raise millions of pounds to help it through the
coronavirus pandemic.
The airline has come under fire from British politicians for
plans to cut 12,000 jobs. But with planes grounded and no
revenue, it says the job losses are necessary because travel
demand is set to shrink in coming years.
As well as Hirst, the BA collection includes works by Peter
Doig and Bridget Riley. The idea of selling them came from a BA
staff member, a source familiar with the situation said on
Thursday.
At least one work has been valued at more than 1 million
pounds ($1.27 million), the source added.
BA boss Alex Cruz said last week that with its parent
company IAG burning through 178 million pounds ($223
million) a week, he could not guarantee BA's survival and urged
unions to engage over the job cuts.
One union, Unite, on Thursday escalated its clash with BA,
saying it was in talks with the EU Commissioner for Competition
about its opposition to the acquisition by IAG of Spanish
airline Air Europa.
BA has said it is taking steps now to reduce up to 28% of
staff numbers to protect as many jobs as it can in the long
term.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Nick Macfie and Stephen
Addison)