Possible Ballot Stansted
Monday 26th July
2010
GMB MEMBERS WORKING FOR
SWISSPORT AT LONDON STANSTED MAY SEEK TO BE BALLOTED FOR INDUSTRIAL
ACTION OVER THE COMPANY'S DOWN-GRADING OF ITS 'NON-ABUSE OF STAFF
BY PASSENGERS' POLICY
GMB members working for Swissport at
London Stansted may seek to be balloted for industrial action over
the company's down-grading of its 'non-abuse of staff by
passengers' policy.
One particular flashpoint that causes
problems for ground staff is Ryanair's £35 charge for passengers
with more than one piece of hand luggage which is know as 'GBAGS':
short for 'gate bags'. Arguments break out and if passengers refuse
to pay the £35 charge then they are 'offloaded' from the flight.
Passengers who take out their anger and frustration on the
Swissport ground staff by verbally abusing them are now according
to a Swissport memo allowed to travel
Posters at Stansted which stated
assault or any form of abuse verbal or physical will
not be tolerated and could lead to you not boarding your flight or
removal from the airport have been removed by
Swissport managers..
Gary Pearce, GMB Organiser at Stansted
said, "This change of policy puts Swissport ground
staff at risk of abuse and the company thinks that is OK.
While other employers are moving increasingly to zero
tolerance policy on the abuse of their staff, Swissport is moving
away from zero tolerance and saying to angry or frustrated
passengers, annoyed by Ryanair's 'gate bags' policy that it is ok
to verbally abuse the staff The GMB believe that passengers who
verbally abuses a member of staff should not be allowed to fly.
GMB members will not put up
with this and they want the decision reversed. Failing that I will
arrange a meeting off all GMB members to find out how they want to
proceed to reinstate their right not to be abused at
work."
Ends
Contact: Gary Pearce,
GMB Organiser on 07850 036952 or GMB Press Office: Rose Conroy on
07974 258123.