Workers Revolutionary Party - ‘We reject compulsory redundancies’

The News Line: News Friday, 14 October 2005 ‘We reject compulsory redundancies’ – say Gate Gourmet workers

Locked-out Gate Gourmet workers on the picket line yesterday are refusing to accept compulsory redundancies

GATE Gourmet workers were on the picket line at Heathrow Airport yesterday, determined to win their rights, having been told on Wednesday that British Airways is refusing to sign a new contract with the inflight meals supplier.

Picket Chanan Rattu commented: ‘BA won’t sign its £6 million deal with Gate Gourmet, so Gate Gourmet won’t carry out the deal it’s signed with the TGWU. Good. It’s a rotten deal anyway.

‘Why should people accept compulsory redundancy? There must be reinstatement for all of us on our original terms and conditions.

‘We have to put in our claim for unfair dismissal and demand full compensation for all the money we’ve lost since we were locked out on August 10 and the money we are owed from before we were locked out.

‘We don’t trust BA, we don’t trust Gate Gourmet and we don’t trust the union leaders.’

Harbinder said: ‘BA won’t give the contract to Gate Gourmet, so Gate Gourmet won’t send the (144 compulsory redundancy) letters. They are playing games with us. They are playing tricks.’

Daljit Dhalawal said: ‘We have to go to the court, that’s the way to spoil their game.’

On Wednesday, Danish Gate Gourmet chauffeur Joergen Linte, from the 3F Airport Workers’ Union in Copenhagen, visited the picket line.

He told News Line: ‘What has happened here is very wrong and we are very concerned. They want to do the same in Copenhagen as they have done here.

We are fighting for all of us, worldwide. We are all watching what is happening.’