Support grows for London's Heathrow strikers
By
Ann Rogers
New Worker newspaper
London
"We're still strong and nobody is backing off," said a
Transport and General Workers Union shop steward on the
Skychefs picket line at Heathrow Airport. "Morale is high and
other unions are helping with donations and by spreading the
word. This picket line is going to be here until we defeat
them."
That was on day 41 of the strike. On both sides of the road
leading to LSG Lufthansa Skychefs' premises the pickets were
making their voices heard above the roar of the jumbo jets
coming in to land on the nearby runway.
Skychefs--the world's biggest airline catering
company--prepares in-flight meals for a number of major
airlines including American Airlines, Canadian Airlines,
Quantas, Iberia, Olympic and Air France.
The dispute began when the company introduced changes in
working practices and new, "flexible" scheduling arrangements
that were unfavorable to the work force. Talks broke down. The
company failed to honor wage pledges and rejected a call to go
to arbitration.
The Transport and General Workers Union held a secret postal
ballot that gave a 75-percent majority for strike action.
Skychefs was given notice of four one-day strikes.
The first one-day stike was on Nov. 20 last year. That same
day dismissal notices were sent to all the strikers.
As more workers joined the strike, more dismissal notices
were delivered. There are now 300 workers in dispute.
T&G General Secretary Bill Morris, who has visited the
picket line, declared the firings "a landmark dispute." He and
the union's general executive council have pledged their full
support. This is an official dispute.
The union is fighting for the reinstatement of all the fired
workers.
Tragically, on Dec. 10 one worker who was signed off sick by
his doctor was nonetheless sent a dismissal letter. Two days
later the man died an untimely death.
One way or another, Heathrow Airport is the biggest employer
of labor in the outer boroughs of west London. In this area
even those who do not work at the airport know relatives,
friends or neighbors who do. There is a strong sense that if
Skychefs gets away with this unjust treatment of its work force
then tomorrow other airport workers will suffer the same
hardship.
Many believe there is a deliberate effort being made by
airport bosses to beat the unions into submission.
The 300 fired Skychefs workers are making a vital stand and
they deserve to have all of our support.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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