British Airways (BA) has announced plans to reduce 12,000 jobs, nearly 30 percent of its workforce.

Media reports said that Chief Executive Alex Cruz, who himself reportedly on a basic salary of over £1.3 million, wrote to staff, saying,

“There is no government bailout standing by for BA and we cannot expect the taxpayer to offset salaries indefinitely.”

“Any money we borrow now will only be short-term and will not address the longer-term challenges we face. … The scale of this challenge requires substantial change so we are in a competitive and resilient position, not just to address the immediate Covid-19 pandemic, but also to withstand any longer-term reductions in customer demand, economic shocks or other events that could affect us.”

British Airways (BA) message is clear:

It is sacrificing its employees to keep the company competitive for the benefit of its shareholders. The company will consult with the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) and the Unite and GMB unions over the next 45 days to discuss implementing the losses.

Furthermore This decision, which will devastate tens of thousands of lives, a warning to the working class of the economic “reconstruction” prepared by business and ruling circles everywhere in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Moreover Millions of workers will made to pay the price of preserving the wealth of a tiny minority of society.

At the end of March, the company sat on €9.5 billion of cash and undrawn general and committed aircraft finance facilities.

BA’s announcement comes just three weeks after a deal was agreed on by Unite and GMB, which saw more than 22,000 workers furloughed on 80 percent of their salaries.