Yes, there is foundation to this subject. BA fleet managers have visitied the Beehive (GB's head office) to discuss the subject and when I last heard (2 days ago) the proposal was for a number of BA 737 pilots to be given temporary 6 month contracts (Captains & FOs). This would be totally unacceptable as we have a number of qualified and capable FOs who should be given these commands. It is creating very bad feeling within the company and must be stamped on. BA would not in a thousand years accept direct entry commands ahead of qualified FOs and nor will we. If GB needs more Captains - promote them. If we need more FOs - recruit them . There is no shortage of good pilots right now, but wherever they come from they must go to the bottom of the seniority list like anyone else. We are not asking for special favours - GB pilots only want a just, fair and transparent system of promotion.
As said previously, this is about to become a very big deal indeed, and if those in charge do not say a resounding 'NO' to these overtures from BA then there will undoubtedly be serious ructions.