BA staff decision day on working for nothing

British Airways will find out today how many of its staff will follow chief executive Willie Walsh and volunteer to work for nothing next month.

Walsh, who last year was paid £743,000, has said he will take no pay in July as his small part in trying to rescue the finances of the struggling flag carrier whose annual losses are running at more than £400 million.

But he caused a certain degree of consternation when he asked his staff - among whom the average annual salary is £29,000 - to do the same.

Walsh has said that the airline is in "a fight for survival" and has made today the deadline to volunteer to work for nothing.

The scheme works by deducting July's pay from a volunteer's salary in instalments through the year.

BA's 40,000 staff have already come under pressure to volunteer to take unpaid leave or a reduction in hours.