The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) has warned of possible strike action by cabin crew at Thomsonfly, following a failed meeting over compulsory job cuts as Thomson and First Choice continue with merger plans.
The T&G, which represents 1,500 Thomsonfly cabin crew through its British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA), said talks with the company’s management and conciliation service Acas had reached a stalemate.
BASSA has given the T&G a 98% mandate to oppose any further redundancies and base closures until a long-term commitment on future job security is made by Thomsonfly.
Kevin Hall, T&G regional industrial organiser, said: “The duplication of operations between First Choice and Thomsonfly at several UK bases has given rise to strong concerns within BASSA. It is the doubling up of work that has led to the mandate for an unequivocal assurance that Thomsonfly will not enforce any compulsory redundancies on cabin crew due to any restructuring or the integration with First Choice.
“We have already seen closures at Leeds Bradford Airport, and have been advised by Thomsonfly of its intention to close the Stansted and Bristol crew bases as of summer 2008,” he added. “We also understand that, more recently, First Choice has announced the closure of its Cardiff and Luton bases from the 1 November this year.”
