BBC NEWS | Business | Heathrow jobs talks put 'on hold'

BBC NEWS | Business | Heathrow jobs talks put 'on hold': "Talks between Gate Gourmet and unions to resolve the ongoing jobs row are on hold after a deal which may help end the crisis was agreed on Thursday.
The caterer and the Transport & General Workers' Union said staff, including 670 sacked workers, would be given the chance to take voluntary redundancy.
Those who wished to leave would get compensation. The deal offers hope that some sacked staff may be reinstated.
Further discussions will take place after workers make their wishes known.
The process of asking volunteers to come forward will take place over the next few days, Gate Gourmet said.
Jobs hope
Although hopes for an end to the deadlock are improving, the issue of alleged militant workers returning is still to be tackled.
It's a step in the process. If you imagine you are trying to climb Mount Everest we have been in the foothills and we are now just about reaching base camp

T&G spokesman


Q&A: Gate Gourmet dispute
Gate Gourmet has always said that 200 so-called 'troublemakers' among the 670 sacked employees would not be allowed to return.
'Our duty is to protect our 1,400 workers who have stood by us during this time,' the company said this week.
Under Thursday's agreement some of the sacked workers could be taken back on, or offered severance pay.
'It's a step in the process. If you imagine you are trying to climb Mount Everest we have been in the foothills and we are now just about reaching base camp,' said a T&G union spokesman.
Talks continued this week despite the absence of Gate Gourmet's chairman, David Siegel, who unexpectedly left for the US on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Gate Gourmet was granted an extension on Friday to a court order restraining protests by dismissed workers."