Travel company Thomas Cook is battling union claims that it is “exploiting” staff after employees complained about unpaid overtime and low pay.
At least 300 of the firm’s staff responded to the transport union TSSA’s survey conducted last month, where the vast majority called for an improved base pay rate and an end to unpaid overtime. Last week, 80% of the travel firm’s union members rejected a 1.5% performance-related pay rise.
TSSA regional organiser Jessica Fenn, who has national responsibility for Thomas Cook, told Travel Weekly: “There is a lot of anger – people are really fed up and feel exploited, morale is very low.”
“Thomas Cook have told us the 1.5% pay increase won’t change and we’re prepared to accept that – if we can sit down and address other issues like overtime and targets,” she added.
A spokesman for Thomas Cook told Personnel Today the company was in discussions with the union over the pay rise.
“We are working hard to make sure they are the least impacted by the current economic climate, which is why, at a time when many organisations are implementing pay freezes, we are continuing with our offer of a pay rise,” the spokesman said.
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