ACAS Talks in CityJet Dispute
Friday 25th February
GMB WELCOMES DECISION BY CITYJET TO ATTEND TALKS AT ACAS
TO AVERT STRIKE ACTION AT LONDON CITY AIRPORT IN DISPUTE OVER
TREATMENT & PAY
GMB members will see this decision by CityJet as a
positive step forward because up to now CityJet was refusing to
engage meaningfully in seeking to resolve the problems we have at
the airport
GMB today welcomed the decision by CityJet Ltd to accept the
invitation from ACAS to attend talks with GMB and Aviation
Resources Ltd on 9th March to avert strike action at London City
Airport in a dispute over treatment and pay of ground staff.
ACAS issued the invitation to CityJet on Monday (21st
February) after talks at ACAS between GMB and Aviation Resources
failed to make progress in the absence of CityJet which holds that
purse strings.
Last week the GMB Central Executive Council (CEC) gave
permission for GMB negotiators to hold an official strike ballot
for ground staff at London City Airport if progress is not made in
talks to resolve the dispute. GMB members 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 staff 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: “I am pleased
that CityJet has accepted the invitation from ACAS to attend talks
on March 9th with GMB and Aviation Resources to resolve
the disputes over pay and treatment of staff at the
airport.
GMB members working at the airport will see this
decision by CityJet as a positive step forward because up to now
CityJet was refusing to engage meaningfully in seeking to resolve
the problems we have at the airport. Last week the GMB CEC gave me
permission to organise a strike ballot if progress is not made in
talks. I will now put arrangements for the ballot on hold until I
am clear about the outcome of the talks. I am now hopeful that we
can resolve this matter satisfactorily.”
Ends
Contact: Stephanie Attwood, GMB Organiser on
07921 473264 or GMB Press Office: Rose Conroy on 07974 251823 or
Steve Pryle on 07921 289880.
Notes to Editors: CityJet, Air France and KLM are all part of
the same group.