On 23 April 2000, the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) announced that the long-running dispute at Lufthansa's airline catering company Skychefs, triggered by the dismissal of 270 workers in November 1998 for taking part in a one-day strike over changes to working patterns, had been settled. Under the terms of the deal, all of the sacked workers have the opportunity to return to work at Skychefs if they wish to, or will receive compensation if they prefer. TGWU general secretary Bill Morris said in a statement: "The Skychefs workers have fought hard for this victory and they deserve the opportunity to return to work with dignity."
In April 2000, it was announced that the long-running industrial dispute at Lufthansa's airline catering company Skychefs in the UK had been settled, with workers dismissed for taking part in a strike in November 1998 being given the opportunity to return to work or receive compensation.
On 23 April 2000, the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) announced that the long-running dispute at Lufthansa's airline catering company Skychefs, triggered by the dismissal of 270 workers in November 1998 for taking part in a one-day strike over changes to working patterns, had been settled. Under the terms of the deal, all of the sacked workers have the opportunity to return to work at Skychefs if they wish to, or will receive compensation if they prefer. TGWU general secretary Bill Morris said in a statement: "The Skychefs workers have fought hard for this victory and they deserve the opportunity to return to work with dignity."
The settlement of the dispute follows an 18-month trade union campaign to put pressure on the German airline, including an attempt to boycott its flights (UK9907121N). According to the TGWU, Lufthansa was forced to negotiate with the union by "sustained and imaginative" action, involving maintaining a picket line outside Skychefs' premises near Heathrow airport, organising protests at the German embassy and undertaking an advertising campaign in the UK and Germany to put pressure on the company. The UK's Trades Union Congress pledged its support for the TGWU's "Don't fly Lufthansa" campaign, and in August 1999 complained to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that Lufthansa's actions were in breach of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines for multinational enterprises. These state that companies should respect the right of their employees to be represented by trade unions and should engage in constructive negotiations with a view to reaching agreements on employment conditions.
The announcement of the settlement of the dispute coincided with the entry into force on 24 April of the provisions of the Employment Relations Act 1999 concerning the unfair dismissal of strikers (UK9912145F). The new legislation makes it unfair to sack an employee for taking part in lawfully organised industrial action of less than eight weeks' duration. In the case of industrial action lasting longer than eight weeks, it will be unfair for employers to resort to dismissals if they have not taken reasonable procedural steps to resolve the dispute. DTI minister Alan Johnson described the new measures as "a powerful incentive for both [employers and unions] to engage constructively to resolve their differences" before they escalate into industrial action.
Eurofound raccomanda di citare questa pubblicazione nel seguente modo.
Eurofound (2000), Skychefs dispute settled, article.
