Skip to main content

Ex-Thomas Cook workers face a grim Christmas

THOUSANDS of unemployed Thomas Cook workers are facing a bleak Christmas, with little money to spare for festivities or even necessities due to the government’s “systematic failure,” Unite has warned.

The union has said that former staff of the liquidated travel agency are under financial strain in the run-up to Christmas.

A confidential survey of Unite’s Thomas Cook members found that 79 per cent will spend less money than last year on presents for adults and 53 per cent will cut spending on children’s gifts.

More than 60 per cent of workers will also spend less on food, while 38 per cent will spend less on heating.

The company, which was the oldest travel agency in the world, collapsed in September, leading to the loss of 9,000 jobs nationwide. Only 21 per cent have subsequently found full-time work. 

Many members commented that such work as has been found pays less and is less secure than their previous job.

Numerous respondents also said that they had found signing on for universal credit a frustrating experience, having had their payments restricted or reorganised after being told to apply for the wrong benefits.

In light of these answers, Unite is calling for the next government to immediately implement the findings of the Airline Insolvency Review and the Insolvency and Corporate Governance Review, which suggested market reforms to protect workers’ and consumers’ rights in the event of an airline going out of business.

They believe that if the reviews’ recommendations had been implemented before the Thomas Cook failure, the company could have been saved.

The union is also calling for a further parliamentary inquiry into the government’s refusal to provide a financial bailout for the airline.

Unite assistant general secretary Diana Holland said: “Thomas Cook airline workers are facing a grim Christmas because they were systemically failed by the previous Tory government.

“The government allowed a profitable airline to collapse into liquidation and then the workers who have paid taxes all their working lives have had to deal with complex procedures to get what they are owed and have even been blocked from claiming the benefits they are entitled to.”

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 12,411
We need:£ 5,589
5 Days remaining
Donate today