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British Airways is asking its 40,000 staff to work for nothing.

Chief executive Willie Walsh said he was making the appeal because the company was in a "fight for survival".

BA has asked its staff to work for between one week and one month without wages.

The company stressed that the staff's decision whether to take them up on the offer was entirely voluntary.

But it comes as the airline looks to slash 2,000 jobs.

The appeal was made in a letter to staff and through the in-house newspaper British Airways News.

Mr Walsh said he was effectively asking staff to take a pay cut.

Under the headline Action Time, the article read: "Colleagues are being urged to help the airline's cash saving drive by signing up for unpaid leave or unpaid work.

"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.

"The unpaid work option means people can contribute to the cash-saving effort by coming to work while effectively volunteering for a small cut in base pay."

Mr Walsh said he would forgo his wages in July, worth a reported £61,000, after the company announced a record £401m pre-tax loss in May.

The Transport and General Workers' Union reacted with anger to his call.

"Mr Walsh can afford to work for free but our members cannot," a union spokesman said.

GMB general secretary Paul Kenny dismissed the call as 'not serious'.

"I do not think suggestions like that are really serious," he said.

"There has got to be a much longer term (solution). We cannot keep having a month off or a month of unpaid just to get the company out of the jam."

He added:"There are already quite a lot of low paid people at BA - not everyone is a chief executive.

"BA is in a very, very serious position, so no one is joking about this."

And those using the Professional Pilots Rumour Network were also unimpressed.

"The CEO who is giving up one month's salary is nothing but a drop in the ocean. But the guys on 18K-24K would see 200 quid a month out of their wages for 6 months!" wrote Betpump5.

Staff have until June 24 to register their interest and follow their boss' example.

"There will be further opportunities to apply, but I urge you to take action now," said a letter to staff from Andy Lord, director of operations.

BA is looking to cut 4,000 jobs, including 2,000 voluntary redundancies among the 14,000 cabin crew, as it strives to save cash.

It is also asking staff to consider temporary or permanent part-time work or unpaid leave of between four weeks to a year.