TWO hundred people joined a mass picket by the locked-out Gate Gourmet workers at Heathrow, six months after the 700-strong workforce at the airline caterer was ‘sacked by megaphone’.
Trade unionists from across London, including bus workers, rail workers, firefighters and school staff came to join the locked-out workers on the hill near the Gate Gourmet plant, as well as local residents living close to Heathrow and a lively contingent of Young Socialists.
Pride of place on the picket was the Justice For Gate Gourmet Workers banner.
‘Compromise Agreement – no way! Jobs back – now!’, ‘Slavery – no way!’, ‘Gate Gourmet – shame, shame!’ shouted the mass picket, which was buoyed by the arrival of cakes, tea and hot Indian food.
‘Tony Woodley – go out! Brendan Gold – go out!’ ‘We are not for sale! We are not for sale! We are diamonds, priceless diamonds!’ the locked-out workers continued chanting.
The workers carried placards condemning the decision by the leadership of their union, the TGWU, to stop their hardship pay and try to get them to accept the sell-out ‘Compromise Agreement’.
Mohinder Virk told News Line: ‘On August 10 I was inside the canteen and within three minutes management told us we were dismissed.
‘We were locked inside, with no water, no toilet, for seven or eight hours. It was like being imprisoned.
‘It was absolutely unfair dismissal.
‘Yesterday the union solicitor rang my home at 9.00pm, to try and force me to sign the “Compromise’’ deal.
‘But I can’t. I’m standing and fighting for my rights.’
Jagi Vadgama, a bus driver for Travel London in Twickenham and chairman of the TGWU 1/770 branch (west London), came with a delegation to join the picket.
He told News Line: ‘I’m here to show my moral support to the Gate Gourmet locked-out staff and I have been coming here previously also, when the dispute initially started.
‘And ever since then I have been keeping in touch with them and plus we are raising support for them also.’
Ben Sprung, chairman of the Fire Brigades Union at Kentish Town fire station, joined the picket with his children.
He said: ‘I have come to lend support and to learn more about their struggle and take their message back to the station.
‘We need to teach people that it’s their struggle now, but it could be you next.’
Locked out worker Mrs Raj said: ‘The union leaders don’t help us. They won’t listen to us. We want Tony Woodley sacked.
‘I am determined. Yes, we will win.’
Jarnail Singh, the TGWU branch secretary at Gate Gourmet, said: ‘The locked-out workers are still paying their contributions to the union so the union should support us to the end of our dispute.’
Parmjit Bains thanked everyone for attending the mass picket and urged them to come again for the monthly mass picket at the end of February.
‘We will be very pleased if you come again and give us strong solidarity. We need your support,’ she said.
