LONDON
United ordered to pay back wages to flight attendants
By Mary Owen
An employment tribunal in London ruled Sept. 8 that United
Airlines must pay back wages to its London-based flight
attendants who had been suspended without pay because they were
pregnant. Their union, the Association of Flight Attendants,
had successfully argued that a 1996 British employment law
covers the women workers.
The British law mandates that an employer determine if a job
poses health risks to pregnant workers. If so, the company must
find the workers an alternative job at an equivalent pay rate
or place them on full paid leave.
The Sept. 8 ruling applies to United flight attendants who
fly out of London's Heathrow Airport.
"United can't thumb its nose at British law. It has to obey
the law like every other company operating in the U.K.," said
Kevin Creighan, president of the Flight Attendants' 900-member
London council. "The judge's decision is a victory for flight
attendants and working women in the U.K."
United responded to the ruling with the true arrogance of a
global capitalist corporation. The airline apparently thinks it
is operating its own private maquiladora at Heathrow.
"We're a U.S. company. Our routes fly to the U.S., we train
in the U.S. and will work under terms of the U.S. contract and
under scope of the contract we signed with AFA," said United's
Andy Plews. The company says it is "studying" the tribunal's
findings and may appeal.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME :: U.S. NEWS :: WORLD NEWS :: EDITORIALS :: SUBSCRIBE :: DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page