TRADE unionists from many unions backed the Gate Gourmet locked-out workers’ lobby of the TUC in Brighton yesterday morning.
A lobby of over 100 workers and youth, which included many of the locked-out workers, plus nurses from north London and postal workers from west and south London, kept up chants outside the TUC Congress all morning.
They shouted: ‘T&G – make our dispute official!’ ‘Tony Woodley – pay us hardship pay!’ ‘Tony Woodley – out, out!’ ‘Victory to the Gate Gourmet workers!’ ‘TUC keep your promise!’
Many delegates going into the Congress backed the lobby’s demands.
John Oliver, Amicus South Yorkshire delegate, told News Line: ‘When I was here last year, I heard how badly the Gate Gourmet workers were treated by the company.
‘Now they must be properly backed by the TUC and they must be properly backed by their own union.
‘Woodley’s ideas don’t match mine.
‘What he has done in the motor industry is clear: he has not fought to defend jobs.’
Tony McCarthy, national secretary of the Community trade union, said: ‘There were promises made that were not met.
‘The T&G had better sort it out because it’s clearly not going away.’
Willie Whalen, UCATT chairman, Northern Region, said: ‘I am shocked. This struggle has been an absolute disgrace.
‘The whole trade union movement should be supporting these workers.
‘You should be in the gallery as visitors and applauded for what you are doing,’ he told the locked-out workers.
Amarjit Singh, TSSA London region, said: ‘The workers must be at the forefront of our minds and union officers must serve their members until the end.’
Jane Aitcheson, PCS Department of Work and Pensions president, said: ‘It’s a disgrace that these locked-out workers have had their hardship payments stopped.
‘They are an important set of workers.
‘They raise the banner of trade unionism, that’s why they must be supported.’
Mick Lerry, Somerset NUT, said: ‘The TUC must support the employment rights of all workers and the T&G must pay these members hardship pay until the dispute is over.’
Richard Warren, Brighton GMB, said: ‘I think it’s disgusting these members have been double-crossed by their own union.’
Equity General Secretary Christine Payne said: ‘Thank goodness they are here.
‘They are what trade unionism is all about.’
Equity President Harry Landis said: ‘It’s disgusting the way these airport catering workers have been treated. How come the union isn’t paying their hardship money?’
After many requests, Steven Hart, London regional secretary of the TGWU, eventually came out of the Congress to speak to the locked-out workers.
He said: ‘We know the struggle is continuing but as far as we are concerned, you are not representative.
‘We are not prepared to let you in.’
Gate Gourmet locked-out worker Mohinder Virk told Hart: ‘We pay our subs and we are entitled to come in.’
Hart returned to the Congress.
Greenford CWU postal workers’ union official, Geoff Loftus, commented: ‘In their minds they know it’s wrong what they did and that’s why they won’t let you in.
‘Six of us came today to support you and we’re very glad we did.’