Aviation Workers Must not pay for Volcano Chaos With Their Jobs, Says Unite

ATTN: Scottish Media

LONDON, April 20, 2010 - As UK airspace begins to open today (Tuesday) Unite, the biggest union in
UK aviation, is warning that workers must not be expected to meet the costs
of the disruption brought by the erupting Icelandic volcano.

The issue will be the subject of an emergency debate at the Scottish TUC
conference when it meets today in Dundee, prompted by Unite's growing concern
that the grounded industry will need large-scale assistance as it attempts to
get back to full operations in the days to come. With the COBRA committee
developing plans to repatriate UK nationals home and airlines seeking
emergency aid to bridge the heavy financial losses incurred by grounded
flights, Unite says concerted action to save jobs right across aviation is
needed too.

Ahead of the STUC debate Brian Boyd, Unite national officer for civil
aviation said: "We fully recognise that the UK civil aviation industry is
facing an unprecedented situation and we are sensitive to this, particularly
in this tentative economic climate.

"But it is also important to recognise the impact on people employed in
this sector. As the skies re-open, standards of health and safety in
accordance with the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) and Met Office
instructions should be fully adhered to. There are no short cuts to a safe
working environment. Furthermore, we urge that the employment conditions of
the workforce are at the heart of any financial assistance received to
airlines.

"This is a time for all parties to work together - government, employers
and trade unions - to ensure a return to the skis where the safety and
welfare of aviation, passengers and employees is of paramount importance."

The union, which represents 70,000 workers employed in the UK sector,
says workers may face increasing pressure to agree to widespread cost-saving
changes from an industry desperate to stem huge losses racked up in the
recent week. Unite fears that some companies, particularly those in the
ground services sector who have been hit hardest by the five days of
disruption, will look to employees to cut costs, including asking them to
take unpaid leave, and that without government assistance jobs will be lost.

Steve Turner, Unite national officer for civil aviation, warned that
Unite will not accept a situation where employees are asked to pay the price
with their jobs or wages: "Our members are growing more anxious by the day
about what any on-going disruption will mean for jobs as well as conditions
of employment. We already know of the worst of employers at major airports
who are asking workers to stay at home unpaid while others expect workers to
take leave.

"We understand the difficulties this extraordinary situation has placed
upon the sector but it is not acceptable to ask workers to pay with their
wages or their jobs. We expect the aviation sector to back loyal,
professional employees and look seriously at meeting these employment costs
during tough times. The unsung heroes of aviation, its lowest paid, working
under the wing to provide essential services will not pay the price of
another crisis in the sector.

"Unpaid leave - unless voluntary - is not an acceptable option for our
members who have families to feed and homes to keep. Should an employer seek
to impose such a measure we will offer the full support of this union to
defend our members."

The union has also written to the Secretary if State for Transport, Lord
Adonis, to ask that he takes all possible steps to alleviate the tremendous
pressure on the industry, said to be costing the sector some GBP130 million
per day. Unite is clear, however, that any support must deliver employment
support for vulnerable workers first and foremost, and that employers must
also seek to negotiate sensible solutions to current difficulties, including;

    * Suspend the use casual and/or agency labour.
    * Make wider use of paid leave and the negotiated banking of hours.
    * Examine whether outstanding holiday entitlement can be brought forward.
    * Maintain the current rosters for all employees but use the available

Time for training and employee development that has fallen short during
the recession.

For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle on +44-(0)7976-832-861. To speak to Brian Boyd ahead of the STUC emergency debate, please call +44-(0)7880-796-347