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Airline jobs at risk says Unite

[2nd May 2008]

The Unite union, which represents over 70,000 workers in the aviation sector including 24,000 cabin crew members, says it has recently been involved in redundancy consultations with airlines XL Airways, Flyglobespan and First Choice.

"The so-called ‘Open Skies’ agreement, consolidation within the sector, competition from low cost carriers and increasing fuel costs are just some of the factors which are now putting aviation jobs at risk," says Unite national officer, Brian Boyd.

"We are also concerned that the Government's flawed plans to replace Air Passenger Duty with the Plane Tax will increase pressure on the UK's aviation sector as a whole, and ultimately lead to more job losses. Unite will be raising its concerns with government in our forthcoming submission on the Government's proposals," adds Boyd.

Unite says that a further sign of increasing competition within the airline sector is Virgin Atlantic's decision to remove 320 beauty therapists from its in flight services. Unite represents more than 4,300 cabin crew at Virgin Atlantic.

"Virgin have agreed to Unite's demand that there should be no compulsory redundancies. The staff will have the opportunity to accept re-deployment within the company if they choose," explains Boyd.

Virgin is offering all in flight beauty therapists jobs as either cabin crew or beauty therapists on the ground. The airline is increasing the number of beauty therapists working at its Heathrow Clubhouse, leading to 70% more treatments there.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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