The bitter Gate Gourmet dispute continues to simmer, with the union leader accusing the catering firm of “reneging” on a proposed deal.
The Transport and General Workers Union has accused the catering firm of trying to renegotiate redundancy terms being offered to workers by docking pay in respect of four weeks’ notice from those who were sacked after last month’s walk-out.
General secretary Tony Woodley is also angered at comments from the boss of the US firm Gate Gourmet, who insisted he would not take back sacked workers he regarded as militants.
Woodley said: “Rather than confrontation from Texas, Dave Siegel should be negotiating in Britain and that’s a view shared across not just the T&G but the senior levels of the TUC and British Airways.
He added: “It is nonsense to describe our members as militants. Mainly, he is talking about middle-aged Asian women. To say there are 200 militants is simply implausible.
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The sacked workers and the 1,400 staff still employed by Gate Gourmet have now been sent letters offering voluntary redundancy as the company seeks to reduce its workforce.
Talks between the two sides are expected to resume next week.
