Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
EasyJet, the British budget airline, has announced plans to cut a third of its workforce, including an estimated 2,250 jobs in the UK, in response to low customer demand in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and strict travel restrictions.
The chief executive officer said that the restructuring was focused on the company’s long-term sustainability and he promised to protect as many jobs as possible.
The pilots’ union Balpa has expressed its concern over the large number of proposed job cuts and over easyJet making a public announcement before conducting any preliminary discussions with the trade unions.
Easy Jet was founded in 1995 and it has grown substantially through acquisitions and opening new bases. It operates UK and international services, flying to 33 countries.
Update 01/07/2020: EasyJet has announced that it will cut 1,200 cabin crew and 727 pilot jobs in the UK and close its bases at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle airports.
Update 25/09/2020: It has been announced that easyJet and Balpa, the pilot’s union have reached an agreement: while 727 pilot roles were at risk of redundancy, 60 pilots had left voluntarily and 1,500 had chose the option of part-time working. The 1,200 cabin crew jobs continue to be at risk of redundancy. Balpa general secretary is reported as saying, "this is a remarkable achievement which has only been possible because of three groups of people – the Balpa reps, easyJet management who have worked with us constructively during this process, but most of all the easyJet pilots themselves who have volunteered in record numbers for part-time work and voluntary redundancy to help save their colleagues’ jobs".
Eurofound (2020), EasyJet, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 101086, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/101086.
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