Workers Revolutionary Party - Gate Gourmet locked-out workers win support

The News Line: News Wednesday, 11 January 2006 Gate Gourmet locked-out workers win support

Gate Gourmet locked-out workers at Southall station winning support campaigning for their conference

LOCKED out Gate Gourmet workers, fighting for reinstatement on their original terms and conditions, had a successful day of campaigning yesterday for their conference in London on Sunday January 29.

More than 700 TGWU members were locked out by the airline catering company at Heathrow on August 10 last year.

Yesterday’s campaign started at Southall fire station, where FBU branch secretary Jack Jackiewicz paid £3 for his conference credential, and said: ‘Your struggle is very important for all workers. The unions must fight for their victimised members.’

The campaign team next met CWU postal union member Mr Rao. He said: ‘We are facing big struggles at Royal Mail. They have opened the postal service up for competition.

‘I will come to your conference. All unions need a leadership that will fight for their members and the services that they provide.’

The team also met Steve, a Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 baggage handler.

He said: ‘We took action to support Gate Gourmet workers and now two of our reps have been sacked.
‘The TGWU must take action to reinstate our reps and also to reinstate you.’

Toby Sylvester, an RMT member at Southall railway station, bought his credentials for January 29 and told the campaign team: ‘All workers, whether public service or private, are having their jobs and conditions threatened.

‘We need constructive leadership in our union. I will be glad to come to your conference.’

Back on the Gate Gourmet picket line at Heathrow, the locked out workers spoke to News Line.

Raksha said: ‘We were very pleased with the support we got for our conference today. We want a really big turnout.’

Satpal said: ‘We are very proud of our struggle.
‘We want to win this fight and that means getting our jobs back on our old terms and conditions.’