Workers Revolutionary Party - Heathrow trade unionists support Gate Gourmet workers

The News Line: News Friday, 28 April 2006 Heathrow trade unionists support Gate Gourmet workers

Gate Gourmet locked-out workers campaigning at Heathrow Airport yesterday

HEATHROW Airport trade unionists are coming to the Gate Gourmet locked-out workers rally at the end of Monday’s TUC May Day march through London.

At Heathrow Terminal Four yesterday TGWU shop steward Mo Khan said: ‘I’m very angry at the way the union has treated these members.

‘If the Gate Gourmet bosses get away with what they have done, sacking workers to bring in cheap labour and new conditions, then all the other bosses on the airport will do the same.

‘We’ve got a dispute coming up ourselves at KLM.’

British Airways TGWU member Matthew Denz said: ‘I support these workers. The union must back them properly and fight for their reinstatement.

‘I am disgusted to hear that they have had their hardship payments stopped.’

GMB member Shaheen said: ‘I support these workers and will march with them on Monday.’

Gate Gourmet locked-out worker Parmjit Bains told News Line: ‘We have heard that the employment tribunals are to start moving on the 12th of May, it’s about time but we are very pleased and very confident of winning.

‘We have got great support here from our fellow airport workers today, we are going to march on May Day to show all the unions and the TUC that we are still fighting and won’t give up any of our rights.

‘Tony Woodley (TGWU General Secretary) has played a dirty game. Whatever the company wanted he has tried to give them, not thinking about the workers’ rights.

‘He tried to sell us out but we’ve shown we won’t be sold, we are calling for the T&G to restore our hardship pay and fight for our reinstatement.’