Ballot London City Airport
Friday 11th February 2011
GMB CEC ASKED FOR PERMISSION FOR STRIKE BALLOT FOR
GROUND STAFF AT LONDON CITY AIRPORT IN DISPUTE OVER TREATMENT AND
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
If GMB members vote in favour of strike action this will have an
impact on all CityJet, Air France and KLM flights arriving
and departing from LondonCityAirportin
March
The GMB Central Executive Council (CEC) which meets on Tuesday
15th February 2011 will be asked to give 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.
CityJet has refused to sanction a pay rise given the level of
inflation since 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. GMB has offered to go to mediation
at ACAS and is awaiting a response from the members’ employer
Aviation Resources.
Stephanie Attwood, GMB Organiser said: “CityJet’s
behaviour is from another era, running roughshod over people’s
rights and dignity with no regard to race, religious or family
commitments. It is only a matter of time before the balloon goes
up.
The GMB CEC will be told that CityJet is the problem.
CityJet itself has refused to negotiate with GMB and compounds this
by refusing to allow Aviation Resources to have meaningful
discussions with GMB. Unfortunately, the other airlines could get
caught in the crossfire and I urge them to seek to influence
CityJet to put things right as soon as possible.
If the GMB CEC gives permission for an official strike
ballot and if GMB members vote in favour of strike action, this
will have an impact on all CityJet, Air France and KLMflights
arriving and departing from London City Airport in
March.”
End
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.