Unite outraged at shocking mistreatment of Flyglobespan workforce and passengers

17th December 2009

Unite the union, the biggest union in aviation, has today (Thursday) condemned as shocking the treatment of Flyglobespan workers left stranded and wageless as another airline fails to survive the current conditions within aviation.

Last night Flyglobespan announced that it had applied for voluntary administration, stranding thousands of passengers down route, and throwing 800 employees into a Christmas of misery and uncertainty.

Brian Boyd, Unite national officer for civil aviation, stated: "It is tragic that Flyglobespan has been unable to survive the current difficult trading conditions within civil aviation. However, the real tragedy is that, along with thousands of passengers stuck overseas, the 800 Flyglobespan employees have been thrown into a Christmas of misery with no wages and no job.

"The manner in which workers can be cast aside in the UK is shocking.  It is totally unacceptable to Unite and our members, and we call upon everyone with a responsibility to play in rectifying this dreadful situation, including the Scottish government, to assist Flyglobespan employees by ensuring speedy compensation at this most important time of the year."

Fiona Farmer, Unite's regional officer responsible for Flyglobespan, added:  "This is a bitter blow for jobs in Scotland and devastating for the employees who have lost their jobs and will not be receiving their December pay next week.

"Many crew are stranded overseas in Europe and beyond, extremely worried about how they will get home and how they will support their families without a wage at Christmas.  This is truly horrendous for them and their loved ones, which is why we are in urgent discussion with the receivers on this issue."

ENDS


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