BRITISH AIRWAYS cabin crew who become pregnant and who live too far from the airline’s bases to perform ground duties will now be forced to take unpaid leave, the Unite union claimed last night. British Airways responded by categorically rejecting the claims.
Under aviation rules, cabin crew are grounded immediately after they learn they are pregnant and are assigned to duties at airports to reduce the risk of miscarriage or complications.
Previously, such staff in British Airways were assigned to the airline’s various bases. Now, the airline has just two remaining hubs in Britain, at Heathrow and Gatwick.
As a result, pregnant cabin crew enjoy paid leave before the birth of a child if they live more than 90 minutes or 50 miles from Heathrow or Gatwick.
Unite alleges that a number of pregnant staff have been told in recent days they will have to take unpaid leave if they are unable to make long-distance journeys to work.
Brendan Gold, Unite’s national officer, said: “This is a shameful attack on pregnant women and a further example of a macho management culture at BA which is out of date and now seriously out of line.
“BA has closed its regional bases, forcing workers to travel hundreds of miles to their place of work, yet it now intends to stop payment to any pregnant crew staff member who is unable to commute to BA’s last two hubs.”
Last night, British Airways rejected “any allegation of discrimination”, saying “every effort is made to find, discuss and offer suitable alternative work for these crew members when we are notified that they are unable to fly”.
In an official statement is added: “There is no intention that any pregnant crew unable to fly will be denied basic pay.”