‘I felt shame’: former BA worker locked in legal battle after losing job of 30 years
Summary
Tess De Mello worked as a British Airways cabin crew member for 30 years before losing her job in 2020 when the airline cut thousands of positions due to the pandemic. She is now in a legal fight with BA over her dismissal and claims that part-time cabin crew were underpaid holiday entitlement, which could affect many workers in the aviation industry.Key Facts
- Tess De Mello worked for BA cabin crew for 30 years and took pride in her job.
- In 2020, BA cut around 10,000 jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- BA asked its longest-serving cabin crew to accept pay cuts of about 20% to keep their jobs; actual cuts ranged from 15% to 35%.
- De Mello says she was unfairly dismissed after asking for clarification about her salary and time to decide on rehire terms.
- An employment tribunal ruled against De Mello and a colleague, but they are appealing.
- They claim part-time workers did not receive the correct holiday pay, referring to a 2022 supreme court decision on part-year worker rights.
- If successful, their claim could lead to similar cases in the aviation sector with significant financial impact.
- BA said a 2025 tribunal dismissed claims against the airline related to pandemic job cuts, finding BA’s actions non-discriminatory.
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