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8 November, 1999One year later, the fight continues for reinstatement of T&G members at Heathrow.
GREAT BRITAIN: On November 20, 1998, Lufthansa Skychefs, the world's largest airline caterer, summarily dismissed 270 members of the IMF-affiliated Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) after they staged an official, lawful one-day strike at the Heathrow kitchens. The employer even targeted members on vacation or sick leave.
The dispute originally arose over failed negotiations on changes in working practices. When the T&G's offer to go to arbitration through UK conciliation services was rejected by the company, the union balloted its membership and received overwhelming support for the one-day strike.
Presently, even though the company's German senior management accepted moral responsibility for resolving the issue and discussing the union's demands for reinstatement of the dismissed workers, they have yet to make constructive proposals. Bill Morris, the union's general secretary, states that the dispute "once again highlights the complete lack of legal protection for trade union members taking part in industrial action in Britain and the willingness of employers still to exploit these weaknesses in our legislation."
While the T&G continues to hope for meaningful negotiations, they have now launched a high profile campaign, with the full backing of the British Trade Union Congress, against Skychef's parent company, Lufthansa Deutsche, which has 100% ownership of the holding company controlling Lufthansa Skychefs.
Join the campaign by sending messages of support and solidarity to the T&G on: Fax (44/171) 931-7258, or e-mail: [email protected]
For more information on the T&G's dispute and campaign, access their website on the associated link.
The dispute originally arose over failed negotiations on changes in working practices. When the T&G's offer to go to arbitration through UK conciliation services was rejected by the company, the union balloted its membership and received overwhelming support for the one-day strike.
Presently, even though the company's German senior management accepted moral responsibility for resolving the issue and discussing the union's demands for reinstatement of the dismissed workers, they have yet to make constructive proposals. Bill Morris, the union's general secretary, states that the dispute "once again highlights the complete lack of legal protection for trade union members taking part in industrial action in Britain and the willingness of employers still to exploit these weaknesses in our legislation."
While the T&G continues to hope for meaningful negotiations, they have now launched a high profile campaign, with the full backing of the British Trade Union Congress, against Skychef's parent company, Lufthansa Deutsche, which has 100% ownership of the holding company controlling Lufthansa Skychefs.
Join the campaign by sending messages of support and solidarity to the T&G on: Fax (44/171) 931-7258, or e-mail: [email protected]
For more information on the T&G's dispute and campaign, access their website on the associated link.