Protection of workers in the airline industry
The Petition of the residents of the constituency of Paisley and Renfrewshire North,
Declares that many workers in the airline industry are currently under threat of being dismissed from their posts and then being rehired on lesser terms and conditions and salary; notes that most other European countries have legislation in place to prevent such mistreatment and to protect workers from management abuse and threats, benefitting both employees and the wider economy; notes the volume of correspondence being received by Members’ offices regarding reports of this practice at British Airways; and notes that the Employment (Dismissal and Re-Employment) Bill, which aims to protect workers from management abuse, has already been presented in the House.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to bring forward legislation to prevent firing and re-hiring practices and protect workers from management abuse.
And the petitioners remain etc.—[Presented by Gavin Newlands, Official Report, 16 June 2020; Vol. 677, c. 773 .]
[P002578]
Observations from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Kelly Tolhurst):
The Government recognise the challenging times facing the aviation sector as a result of covid-19. Aviation plays a critical role in our future as a global trading nation and for local economies such as that in the constituency of Paisley and Renfrewshire North. Additionally, we recognise that this will be a very distressing time for employees of British Airways, Rolls-Royce and across the aviation and aerospace industry, as well as for their families and for local communities that are supported by the industry.
The aviation sector is able to draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital, Time to pay flexibilities with tax bills, financial support for employees and VAT deferrals. These measures have been designed to ensure that companies of any size receive the help they need to get through this difficult time airports, airlines and the wider supply chain.
Our absolute focus in Government has been combating coronavirus, with a view to the safe return to aviation, when the science allows. We have kept an open dialogue with the aviation and aerospace sectors with regular structured engagement from the start of the pandemic with unions and industry bodies such as ADS, AOA and Airlines UK as well as with individual airlines, airports, ground handlers and manufactures. I am also acutely aware of the impact on the aviation workforce and I can assure you that we are actively working with unions and industry to make sure we identify opportunities to retain key skills within the industry, or ensure they are able to find new employment or retrain and upskill as necessary.
More recently, the Department for Transport has established a restart and recovery unit to work directly with the sector, focusing on the immediate practicalities of restarting the sector and to set a clear vision and objectives looking forward to the longer-term recovery phase. This work has already started in earnest with the international aviation taskforce’s industry expert steering group, a collaborative working group with representation from across industry and Government, including the devolved Administrations. Through this group we have recently developed safer travel guidance for operators and passengers, published on the 11 June 2020. This group will also consider how the industry can restart flying and ensure that it can grow sustainably in the future.