Furious British Airways workers staged a demonstration in a Moray town in an attempt to secure the backing of the region’s MP in a battle with their bosses.
Airline staff and trade union Unite representatives have been staging such protests across the UK, calling for Westminster to withdraw landing slots due to the way staff have been treated as the company attempts to make ends meet.
About a dozen demonstrators waved banners and flags in Forres town centre outside the office of Moray MP Douglas Ross, calling on him to offer his backing.
It came as workers slammed the airline for plans to fire and rehire all of their workforce on significantly worse pay, with less lucrative terms and conditions, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The plans have been labelled a “national disgrace” and condemned by a cross section of politicians.
“BA has pushed ahead with ‘project fire and rehire’ regardless of being propped up by government money on the furlough scheme.”
Protesters expressed their disappointment at Mr Ross not attending the gathering, and not adding his signature to the written commitment already inscribed by more than 260 MPs.
Mr Ross explained he had already met with representatives before and had written to UK Transport Minister Grant Shapps showing his support for the campaign.
A local British Airways worker said: “BA has pushed ahead with ‘project fire and rehire’ regardless of being propped up by government money on the furlough scheme.
“We had contacted local MP Douglas Ross to meet up and sign the pledge but he haven’t turned up which is really disappointing.”
Mr Ross said: “I have had long discussions in my office with workers and union representatives in the last couple of weeks about the situation.
“I explained in all my time as a elected representative I found the best thing to do was to write to the minister first.
“I have listened really careful and I have written to the UK transport minister supporting their cause and agreed to meet with them again after I receive a response from the minister about the issue they are highlighting.”
Earlier this week, British Airways said it was facing the “biggest challenge” in its history and needed to “adapt to survive”.