GMB, a British General Union, sees the expansion of IT outsourcing at British Airways (BA) as a risk to security and UK jobs.

The IT outsourcing project, which is expected to be concluded by April, includes a deal with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), an Indian firm.

GMB fears that up to 900 IT jobs will go to TCS and be filled with staff from India. This Union reported the situation as an “abuse of Tier 2 visas” by BA and TCS.

The Tier 2 allows IT suppliers with UK operations to bring in staff from overseas hence making it possible for these firms to bring in low-cost labour. A situation that makes it harder for local IT professionals to compete.

Mick Rix, a national officer for civil aviation at the GMB, believes it is dangerous to offshore important national security reporting work to companies abroad during “these times of very heightened security measures due to the threat by terrorists to civil aviation flights”.

In self-defence, BA said the “IT services are now provided globally by a range of suppliers… a very common practice across all industries and the UK Government”, BA adds.

As an important employer in the UK – responsible for the hiring of 1000 new jobs every year – BA insisted they “would never compromise the integrity and security of their IT services” and that only 200 of their IT staff would be affected by the deal.

For weekly news updates, subscribe to our email newsletter

Related: BA integration with regional airline bmi threatens 1,200 jobs