Support Gate Gourmet Catering Workers

[Mitch]

www.labourstart.org/gategourmet

More information on this shortly - just been called out apologies. Labourstart has much info on the campaign of these workers.

In solidarity to them.

Mitch

[Mitch]

www.tgwu.org.uk/Templates/System/Other.asp?NodeID=91884

More information on the fight of the 670 Gate Gourmet catering workers who are mostly Asian women, and low paid, can be found on the T&G website.

"In the most despicable way they (Gate Gourmet) pushed loyal employees into a corner, deliberately concealing a plan to sack full-timers and replace them with casual - and cheaper labour."

No doubt the horrendous tactics used by Gate Gourmet - including announcements of sackings over loudspakers - will be familiar to many casual workers in this area. The loud speaker sackings I have witness myself, as a temp at what was Hurel Hispano, now Aircelle.

Any casual workers experiencing treatment like this by local companies please do anonymously share your stories with us if you can.

In solidarity to all casual workers.

Mitch

[bryan]

From: "Derek Pattison" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: PRESS RELEASE - GREATER MANCHESTER ASSOCIATION OF TRADES UNION COUNCILS
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:31:32 +0000

GREATER MANCHESTER ASSOCIATION OF TRADES UNION COUNCILS
P R E S S R E L E A S E

GATE GOURMET WORKERS TO SPEAK AT MANCHESTER MEETING


Greater Manchester Association of Trades Union Councils (GMATUC), has invited speakers from the Gate Gourmet strike committee to speak at a meeting in Manchester about their industrial dispute and how their dispute has thrown into the spotlight, the lack of employment law protection for British workers.

Derek Clarke, Secretary of GMATUC`s said:

" The sacking of 670 mainly Asian women workers by the US-owned Gate Gourmet company earlier this year, has angered many British workers. Following press reports, it is now widely believed that this US transnational catering company pre-planned this dispute by provoking their Heathrow staff into taking unoffical industrial action so that they could be sacked with no legal redress and replaced with staff from Eastern Europe on lower wages. The appalling managerial practices of this company have shown that employment laws in Britain are inadequate and are failing to protect workers from unscrupulous bosses. Compared with many other countries in Western Europe, Britain is now seen by many employers as the country where it is easier and cheaper to sack people and where people work longer hours for lower pay. As a trades union organisation, we are demanding that the government improve employment rights to end this kind of victimisation and exploitation."

The meeting at the Friends Meeeting House (Near Albert Square) Manchester, will take place on Tuesday 15th November, commencing at 7.00 pm. Other speakers include Sue Machin, Barrister and specialist in employment law.

For further information contact:

Derek Clarke: 0161 860 6033 - Mobile [phone]
Derek Pattison - Press Officer - Mobile [phone]

[michele cryer]

Thanks Barry...one or two of us from Burnley wouldn't mind attending this meeting...will keep you posted!

[Mitch]

admin said:

Thanks Barry...one or two of us from Burnley wouldn't mind attending this meeting...will keep you posted!

Definitely, have made a note of the date Michele and we can drive over, picking Fred/Reg up on way if they're also keen.

[bryan]

Fred is interested in going. He told me last night.

[michele cryer]

Great news Bryan..expect to see us there then...and a report to follow on The Burnley Voice...

[bryan]

The meeting in support of secondary strikes and solidarity action took place last night. Over 30 attended. The speakers were Gerry Hicks - the sacked Rolls Royce convenor, the Gate Gourmet strikers and Sue Machin - barrister for the Manchester electricians.

A motion from the meeting is being formulated and funds were raised in support of the Gate Gourmet strikers. Sue Machin insisted that the motion from the meeting and the trade union councils should include reference to the Human Rights legistlation which gives workers tjhe right to strike.

Sue also praised those on the back row who argued that changing the law is not the only solution, but a change in attitude is needed by the union bosses. She said when she defended the electricians there were no union leaders there in Court to offer their support. She might also have added that there were no union solicitors present either.

The question is how serious were the union bosses about the case of the sacked electricians? Barry Woodling - Manchester Social Forum - drew attention to this in his intervention. It was noticable that Dave McCall, North West Regional Secretary of the T&G, didn't attend and did not even answer the invitation from the organisers - the Greater Manchester Trade Union Councils.

[Mitch]

business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,16781,1668090,00.html

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4531556.stm

Update on Gate Gourmet sacked workers - T&G utterly useless!

Unscrupulous employers also know every loophole they can play in Employment tribunals - especially delaying proceedings.

I suspect Gate Gourmet are also now working with BA behind the scenes to put pressure on the T&G to weaken their already weak position - there was talk recently of BA suing the T&G for a huge amount.

The compromise contract that some workers are refusing to sign and are going instead to tribunal invites them back on the same wage, but new workers will start at a lower wage - Gate Gourmet employs large numbers of seasonal temporary workers.

The doors are closing on employment tribunal compensation awards (the loopholes for employers are facilitated by central government legislation - their intent here I think is to put off some of the large numbers of employment tribunals - which have grown to huge numbers in recent years).

Government hand in hand with business - T&G ineffectual.