Union Leads Emergency Debate On Jobs Threat At Scottish TUC
Conference
As UK airspace began to re-open
Tuesday, Unite, the UK's largest aviation union, warned that
workers must not be expected to meet the costs of the disruption
brought by the erupting Icelandic volcano.
The issue was the subject of an emergency debate at the Scottish
TUC conference in Dundee Tuesday, prompted by Unite's growing
concern that the grounded industry will need large-scale assistance
as it attempts to get back to full operations in the days to come.
With the COBRA committee developing plans to repatriate UK
nationals home and airlines seeking emergency aid to bridge the
heavy financial losses incurred by grounded flights, Unite says
concerted action to save jobs right across aviation is needed
too.
Ahead of the STUC debate Brian Boyd, Unite national officer for
civil aviation said "We fully recognize that the UK civil aviation
industry is facing an unprecedented situation and we are sensitive
to this, particularly in this tentative economic climate.
"But it is also important to recognise the impact on people
employed in this sector. As the skies re-open, standards of health
and safety in accordance with the National Air Traffic Service
(NATS) and Met Office instructions should be fully adhered to.
There are no short cuts to a safe working environment. Furthermore,
we urge that the employment conditions of the workforce are at the
heart of any financial assistance received to airlines.
"This is a time for all parties to work together - government,
employers and trade unions - to ensure a return to the skis where
the safety and welfare of aviation, passengers and employees is of
paramount importance."
The union, which represents 70,000 workers employed in the UK
sector, says workers may face increasing pressure to agree to
widespread cost-saving changes from an industry desperate to stem
huge losses racked up in the recent week. Unite fears that some
companies, particularly those in the ground services sector who
have been hit hardest by the five days of disruption, will look to
employees to cut costs, including asking them to take unpaid leave,
and that without government assistance jobs will be lost.
Steve Turner, Unite national officer for civil aviation, warned
that Unite will not accept a situation where employees are asked to
pay the price with their jobs or wages. "Our members are growing
more anxious by the day about what any on-going disruption will
mean for jobs as well as conditions of employment," he said. "We
already know of the worst of employers at major airports who are
asking workers to stay at home unpaid while others expect workers
to take leave. We understand the difficulties this extraordinary
situation has placed upon the sector but it is not acceptable to
ask workers to pay with their wages or their jobs. We expect the
aviation sector to back loyal, professional employees and look
seriously at meeting these employment costs during tough times. The
unsung heroes of aviation, its lowest paid, working under the wing
to provide essential services will not pay the price of another
crisis in the sector."
"Unpaid leave - unless voluntary - is not an acceptable option
for our members who have families to feed and homes to keep," he
continued. "Should an employer seek to impose such a measure we
will offer the full support of this union to defend our
members."
The union has also written to the Secretary if State for
Transport, Lord Adonis, to ask that he takes all possible steps to
alleviate the tremendous pressure on the industry, said to be
costing the sector some GBP130 million per day. Unite is clear,
however, that any support must deliver employment support for
vulnerable workers first and foremost, and that employers must also
seek to negotiate sensible solutions to current difficulties,
including:
- Suspend the use casual and/or agency labor.
- Make wider use of paid leave and the negotiated banking of
hours.
- Examine whether outstanding holiday entitlement can be brought
forward.
- Maintain the current rosters for all employees but use the
available