The budget airline proposed changes such as unpaid leave of three months, freeze on pay rise and cutting of crew food during their shifts
People close to the talks said the proposals went down very badly, particularly among pilots. However, there remains a willingness to make concessions in order to avoid redundancies.
Further talks between EasyJet and unions representing pilots and cabin crew are expected today.
According to BBC sources, insiders shared concerns that the airline might be using the current crisis as an excuse to change working practices, and erode employees' pay and benefits in the long term.
According to BBC sources, insiders shared concerns that the airline might be using the current crisis as an excuse to change working practices, and erode employees' pay and benefits in the long term.
Meanwhile, EasyJet's chief executive Johan Lundgren has defended the payment of £170m in dividends to shareholders, at a time when the company is seeking financial help from the government.
On Wednesday, EasyJet's recently-appointed chief operating officer Peter Bellew met delegates from the pilots' union Balpa and Unite, which represents cabin crew.
Under discussion was a proposed "coronavirus cooperation agreement" setting out changes to employees' terms and conditions. It would be in force from 23 March 2020 until 15 November 2021.
Both sides acknowledge that action is needed. Travel restrictions across Europe have forced it to cancel many of its flights and ground nearly a third of its fleet. The airline needs to save cash, and the unions want to preserve jobs.
However, sources say the proposals themselves provoked an angry response.
The four-page document would allow the airline to cancel pay rises until 2021, make significant changes to working patterns, and allow it to defer pay rise for newly-promoted captains for six months.
Pilots, in particular, seem aggrieved by the plan. According to messages seen by the BBC, negotiators agreed to reject it on the principle that there was "no evidence that the current crisis warrants such an extensive change in terms and conditions for such a long period, particularly when so many of them are so critically linked to flight safety and fatigue".
Balpa has refused to comment, as the talks are ongoing.
EasyJet says Mr Lundgren, Mr Bellew and Chief Financial Officer Andrew
Findlay have all elected to take a 20% cut in their monthly salary from
April to June.
Nevertheless, Easyjet's CEO Johan Lundgren told ITV that the airline has cancelled 14.000 flights this month but things could only get worse as the fleet is likely to be grounded thanks to the latest coronavirus travel restrictions across Europe.
''So we are going to see that the majority of the fleet will be grounded here in April and May. And one of the difficulties around this is that certain countries about 8-10 countries are in complete lockdown. We have five countries including the UK who are advising against anything but essential travel.
''So that makes it extraordinarily difficult from an operational, logistical point of view''.
The airline is currently working on rescue flight programme for Cyprus, Egypt and Morocco for the coming days which will publish as soon as we can.
The British budget airline has asked for a loan from the government as it struggling with the Covid-19 since the bookings have plummeted and many countries are lockdown.
Sources: BBC, Guardians
Nevertheless, Easyjet's CEO Johan Lundgren told ITV that the airline has cancelled 14.000 flights this month but things could only get worse as the fleet is likely to be grounded thanks to the latest coronavirus travel restrictions across Europe.
''So we are going to see that the majority of the fleet will be grounded here in April and May. And one of the difficulties around this is that certain countries about 8-10 countries are in complete lockdown. We have five countries including the UK who are advising against anything but essential travel.
''So that makes it extraordinarily difficult from an operational, logistical point of view''.
The airline is currently working on rescue flight programme for Cyprus, Egypt and Morocco for the coming days which will publish as soon as we can.
The British budget airline has asked for a loan from the government as it struggling with the Covid-19 since the bookings have plummeted and many countries are lockdown.
Sources: BBC, Guardians
