BA nosedived from a record profit last year to a record loss before tax of £401m for the 12 months ended 31 March.
Walsh’s plea is outlined in the latest edition of in-house magazine,
BA News, under the headline ‘Action Time’.
‘Colleagues are being urged to help the airline's cash-saving drive by signing up for unpaid leave or unpaid work,’ the article reads.
‘From tomorrow, people will be able to opt for blocks of unpaid leave or unpaid work, with salary deductions spread over three to six months, wherever possible.’
Walsh, who along with chief financial officer Keith Williams has promised to work for nothing during July, said the idea was part of BA's across the board cost-cutting measures.
‘I am looking for every single part of the company to take part in some way in this cash-effective way of helping the company's survival plan,’ he said. ‘It really counts.’
The idea has gone down badly with unions, who point out that Walsh and Williams earn £735,000 and £440,000 a year respectively, compared with an average annual salary for BA cabin staff of £29,900.
The Telegraph reports a spokesman for Unite, the biggest of the BA unions, said: ‘Willie Walsh can afford to work a month for free. Our members can't.’
Meanwhile Mick Rix, a national officer from the GMB union, said: ‘Most workers may consider this request if and when the company's executives take permanent and radical action to reduce their own remuneration packages.’
BA has set a deadline of 24 June for employees to volunteer for unpaid work.
Related news from e-tid:
BA plans further cuts after record loss [FY08/09] (22/05/2009)
BA/union talks continue as 300 jobs go (03/04/2009)
BA staff face further redundancies (06/03/2009)