Gate Gourmet International -

Gate Gourmet International -: "Crisis talks between Gate Gourmet UK and the Transport and General Workers� Union (TGWU) have been further strained today due to un-balloted strike action and breach of contract by employees which led to the dismissal of approximately 350 workers at the company�s Heathrow South operation. The strike action puts the jobs of all 2,000 workers at Heathrow Airport under threat and the supply of 320 flights that rely on the airline caterer daily.
In response to the crisis, Managing Director Eric Born said: 'After months of trying to find a consensual deal with the TGWU and the staff to resolve the financial crisis and secure the future of the company, this un-balloted action is a devastating blow. These actions not only jeopardise the livelihoods of our entire workforce at Heathrow, but also the services of major airlines and their customers. The new management has formally met with the unions on more than 30 separate occasions and has made every effort to reach agreement on a consensual restructuring deal, including a recently agreed mediation process. The union has been fully briefed on the financial crisis at Gate Gourmet UK and acknowledged the need for change. The workers took industrial action in response to the arrival of 130 seasonal workers � who we employ every summer to meet high demand during peak season � as an excuse to incite strike action. The full extent of the union�s role is being investigated. If we don�t change, the company will not survive and there will be no future � we now have to take control of this situation swiftly which may lead to restructuring to avoid the total collapse of the company'."