ACAS Talks Fail On CityJet
Tuesday 22nd February
GMB PUSH AHEAD WITH INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOT AS ACAS
APPEAL TO CITYJET TO ATTEND TALKS TO AVOID LONDON CITY AIRPORT
STRIKE BALLOT IN DISPUTE OVER TREATMENT AND TERMS & CONDITIONS
OF EMPLOYMENT
Talks took place yesterday at Acas between GMB and
Aviations Resources and it became clear that progress could not be
made without CityJet which holds that purse strings being present
at the talks
Acas today has issued an appeal to CityJet to turn up for talks
with GMB and Aviation Resources on 9th and
15th March in order to avoid strike action at London
City Airport. Talks took place today at Acas between GMB and
Aviations Resources but progress could not be made without CityJet
which holds that purse strings. In the meantime GMB is pushing on
with the industrial action ballot.
Last week the GMB Central Executive Council (CEC) gave
permission for an official strike ballot for ground staff at London
City Airport. The staff are employed by an agency Aviation
Resources and provide checking-in and dispatch services for the
airlines CityJet, Air France and KLM flights.
The dispute is about pay, treatment and terms & conditions
of employment. The staffs in question have not had a pay rise since
2008.One of the airlines CityJet has refused to sanction a pay rise
even though the retail price index has increased by 9.2% since
January 2008. The employer Aviation Resources is wholly reliant on
each airline for the pay and conditions of employment of the staff
they supply.
CityJet management is also accused of bullying tactics. A
typical example is where CityJet told a new mother on her first day
back to work following the birth of her baby boy that her ‘grooming
needed attention’ as she had ‘put on weight’. The airline is
insisting she remove her nose stud, which is integral to her
religious beliefs. She is now off work having been sent home whilst
the CityJet Manager who gave the orders remains at work.
In addition, CityJet has also demanded changes in terms and
conditions of employment. CityJet has insisted that the part-time
mothers loose their flexible rosters that they have had over past
years and go on to general rosters. These will impact badly on
their childcare arrangements and ability to work at the
airport.
GMB members have already voted by 97% for industrial action in a
consultative ballot of all the members working on the CityJet
contract at London City Airport.
Stephanie Attwood, GMB Organiser said: “Talks took place
yesteday at Acas between GMB and Aviations Resources. However, it
became clear that progress could not be made without CityJet, which
holds the purse strings and is demanding the changes,
being present at the
talks.
So Acas is now issuing an appeal to CityJet to turn up
for talks with GMB and Aviation Resources on 9th and
15th March in order to avoid strike action at London
City Airport. In the meantime GMB will push on with the industrial
action ballot and if the members vote in favour there will be a
strike at London City Airport in March.”
Ends
Contact: Stephanie Attwood, GMB Organiser on 07921 473264 or GMB
Press Office: Rose Conroy on 07974 251823 or Steve Pryle on 07921
289880.
Noted to Editors: CityJet, Air France and KLM are all part of
the same group.