Monkeys?????
The Mail on Sunday is well known for being anti-BA, but for once they're on the cabin crew's side.......
The Mail on Sunday:
A SENIOR British Airways manager faces disciplinary action after telling cabin crew they were 'no better than monkeys'.
The main union representing BA's 14,500 air stewards and stewardesses demanded last night that international cabin crew manager Lorena Castelino, who made the remark to 12 staff, should be suspended from duty.
Union officials are worried the ill-timed remark will demage the morale at a time when BA face huge job cuts because of a downturn in business.
A BA insider said:"The crew could not believe it. Lorena told them,'You're no better than trained monkeys. They could do your jobs."
'Many of them can speak up to five languages and are highly intelligent. The last thing they need is an arrogant, overbearing manager coming along and comparing them to apes when the business is up against the ropes.'Talk about Lorena's remark has spread like widefire. It's extremely bad for morale.'
Last night, the Transport and General Workers' Union said:'This matter should be fully investigated and an apology made.It's a disgusting way to speak to people.'
The row comes as BA is bringing forward 13,000 job cuts, axing first-class services, cutting routes and cancelling eight transalantic Concorde flights in the next three weeks after being hit hard by September 11 and Iraq war.
Internal documents sent to cabin crew last week revealed that one of BA's biggest corporate clients, which was not named, has reduced its spending on first-class travel by 91 per cent in the past year.
A message from BA cabin crew senior director Joy Hordern added:'Quite simply, first class is suffering, compelling us to take a radial look at all aspects of the cabin, the product, the price, the service, the crewing levels and the routines.'
Ms Castelino,40, of Mitcham, Surrey, made her 'monkeys' comment during a recent meeting in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. To add insult to injury, she told the crew that their base was being moved from Rio to Sao Paulo and that they would not receive compensation.
Ms Castelino said last night:'You will have to refer your enquiries to the press office.'
A BA spokeswoman said:'We will be carrying out a full investigation into the allegations. Our cabin crew are valued and respected right across the airline.'