Alliance News - Pilots' union Balpa on Monday said it believes easyJet PLC management were just stringing its negotiating team along after the FTSE 250-listed airline unilaterally shut down formal redundancy talks.
The backlash from the union comes amid plans announced by easyJet to close its bases in Stansted, Southend and Newcastle as the company tries to slash costs at the airports where pilots and crew members total around 670.
In May, easyJet had said it was going to cut as much as 30% of its workforce.
On Friday, easyJet Chief Executive Johan Lundgren said: "We have had to take the very difficult decision to close three UK bases as a result of the unprecedented impact of the pandemic and related travel restrictions, compounded by quarantine measures in the UK which is impacting demand for travel."
Turning back to the halting of redundancy discussions, BALPA General Secretary Brian Strutton said: "This is an act of spectacular bad faith. Clearly easyJet management were just stringing our negotiating team along with no intention of reaching any kind of agreement. This is not an abstract issue. We’re talking about people’s jobs and livelihoods. We have put forward tough measures such as part-time and part-year working which would have significantly reduced the need for compulsory redundancies. Rather than considering these proposals easyJet have walked away."
"Staff members in easyJet are amazed at how far and how fast the culture in easyJet has changed and the anger and frustration is palpable. We do not blame easyJet for the downturn caused by Covid. But the way they have gone about dealing with it has been deplorable," Strutton added.
According to Balpa, talks aimed at mitigating the need for compulsory redundancies had appeared to be going well and easyJet had last week promised to consider BALPA's suggestions and further meetings were planned.
Strutton said the union has a previously scheduled meeting with easyJet management on Monday during which it plans to give the airline a final chance to change course.
Shares in easyJet closed 4.6% lower at 544.60 pence each on Monday in London.
By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com
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