670 low paid Workers Sacked

national | worker & community struggles and protests | news report Monday August 22, 2005 11:52 by Sean Smyth - ATGWU

We do not forget that many of our people were sacked with three minutes notice over a public address system and with twenty minutes notice by a megaphone; these are decent, hard-working, honourable people who have been treating appallingly

As the fight continues for the reinstatement of the 670, Sacked workers from Gate Gourmet, the controversial catering supplier to BA which sacked the mainly Asian low paid workers, a significant number of whom are women, the ATGWU region 3 support group are holding a sponsored walk this Saturday August 27th at 10.30am from Lisburn Civic Centre to Transport House Belfast to raise funds for the sacked workers, everyone is invited and sponsorship forms can be collected at Transport House Belfast. Meanwhile ATGWU general secretary Tony Woodley said, “that the union is determined to keep fighting for justice and to use all avenues open to get the workers' reinstated.”
In a telling message for the government he said, “that whilst local MPs had been very supportive of their constituents the simple fact was that Gate Gourmet had taken advantage of lax labour laws in the UK to act as they have done. The Gate Gourmet workers case now goes beyond just an industrial dispute," he said. "They are the focus for the trade union movement and the fight for decency and justice in the workplace.
We do not forget that many of our people were sacked with three minutes notice over a public address system and with twenty minutes notice by a megaphone; these are decent, hard-working, honourable people who have been treating appallingly. We believe British Airways should do the decent thing and resist the pressure to let Gate Gourmet benefit from their actions but equally BA should be clear the public support for this group of workers is massive and may well affect their business." To see the full statement and latest information log on to www.tgwu.org.uk
For further information on Saturday’s sponsored walk contact Sean: 07900 212 934