Gate Gourmet International -

Gate Gourmet International -: "GATE GOURMET AND TGWU
AGREE ON SELECTION CRITERIA
London, Sept. 9, 2005

Gate Gourmet London (Heathrow) and the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), assisted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), today reached agreement on compulsory redundancy selection criteria and a process for the ratification of the company�s survival plans.

Eric Born, Managing Director of Gate Gourmet UK & Ireland said: �This is another milestone on the long road to finding a permanent and fair resolution to our current labour issues. We are still working through the voluntary redundancy and compensation programme, with the union, along the lines of framework agreed on 25th August.�

The agreed criteria include standard performance-based measures such as skills and knowledge, attendance and disciplinary records.

The company together with the union will next consider the results of the voluntary redundancy and compensation programme as they become available.

Gate Gourmet is trying very hard to find a fair and reasonable solution for the dismissed workers. Due to legal reasons the company is unable to selectively reengage dismissed workers because the illegal action that took place was instigated and supported by local union officials. The legal constraint on the company is well known to the union and has been at the heart of the lengthy negotiations since the wildcat strike.

In present circumstances the signing of compromise agreements by all the dismissed workers is the only way that would enable Gate Gourmet to quickly consider any requests by dismissed employees to be reengaged by Gate Gourmet. There would have been more freedom to discuss a selective reengagement process if the union had accepted from the start that the action was unofficial.

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