According to information on Gate Gourmet's website, they sacked 350 workers who took unballoted strike action and who, despite repeated requests, refused to return to work. But if you read the "Message from the workers at Gate Gourmet catering company" on the TGWU website, you get a very different picture:
"On Wednesday, August 10th, 2005, Gate Gourmet sacked 800 workers employed at Heathrow. Fellow workers reporting for duty on Thursday 11th August 2005 were faced with the ultimatum of signing a new contract which would slash pay and conditions or face the sack.
As catering assistants we are paid just £12,000 a year. As drivers we are paid less than £16,000 per year.
... At the same time, the management team has awarded themselves hefty pay rises. We are therefore picketing today to draw attention to this harsh, shameless mistreatment of a loyal and hard-working workforce by a company which has no respect for labour relations or for basic employment rights.
... Despite this terrible treatment, we want our jobs back. We want decent treatment at work. And no disruption to your travel plans."
The press release (10 August 2005) on the Gate Gourmet website states:
"Earlier this year Gate Gourmet UK management had agreed to a deal over a move to modern working practices and redundancies with the TGWU because the TGWU Regional Organiser informed them, as well as the shareholders and the advisors to the lenders, that he could secure a ‘yes’ vote in a ballot in June. However, the staff heavily voted against the union’s own recommended proposal."
But again the information on the TGWU website gives a different picture:
"In June this year a rescue package was put forward by the company. The T&G said that any restructuring proposals needed to be across the board and include management grades. The company then re-graded 147 shop-floor workers as managers only to make them redundant. The original management team put themselves on higher starting salaries than before and made it clear they would not be part of the restructuring.
Following this provocative and callous action, when the rescue package was put to the workforce it was rejected by nine to one.
... August 10th, 2005, the company brought in new workers without discussion. While the union sought clarity on the situation, staff assembled in the canteen in preparation for a meeting. Management then told staff that they had three minutes to get back to work or they would be sacked. They refused and remained in the building. Members starting the late shift also refused to come into work having heard the news. Those assembled in the car park were sacked by megaphone."
We are hearing stories of people being sacked by letter despite being legitimately off sick or on holiday, and an official statement issued this morning refers to Gate Gourmet agreeing to reinstate these workers, despite initial denials by the company that that had happened in the first place.
So to those who are railing against the union for fomenting dissent and out-dated working practices - how would you feel if your employer behaved this way?
