Airline accused of bullying new mums at work
Ground staff who are threatening to strike at London City have accused one of the airport’s major airlines of bullying its workforce.
They claim CityJet, a subsidiary of Air France but headquartered in Dublin, has refused to increase salaries since 2008 and that it has bullied women who have returned to work after having babies.
Trade union GMB claimed one of the airline’s managers told a new mum on her first day back at work following the birth of her baby that her ‘grooming needed attention’ and accused her of putting on weight.
It said the airline also insisted the woman removed her nose stud, which she claimed was integral to her religious beliefs, and she has since been sent home.
The union also claims the airline wants to get rid of flexible rosters for mothers who work part-time, forcing them to go on to the general rosters.
GMB Central Executive Council (CEC) has given the ground staff, who are employed by agency Aviation Resources and contracted to work for individual airlines, permission to hold a strike ballot over pay, treatment and terms and conditions of employment. The staff provide check in and dispatch services for CityJet, Air France and KLM.
Peace talks are scheduled to take place at the conciliation service ACAS on Monday February 28, but the union said it would push on with a strike ballot if no progress is made.
GMB organiser Stephanie Attwood said: If GMB members vote in favour of strike action, this will have an impact on all CityJet, Air France and KLM flights arriving and departing from London City Airport in March.
"The GMB CEC recognised that a pay freeze against the background of over 9.2% inflation is not sustainable. Neither is CityJet’s behaviour which is from another era, running roughshod over people’s rights and dignity with no regard to race, religious or family commitments. It is only a matter of time before the balloon goes up.
"CityJet itself has refused to negotiate with GMB and are compounding this by refusing to allow Aviation Resources to have meaningful discussions with GMB.”
CityJet issued a statement saying it had initiated discussions with senior management at Aviation Resources on these specific claims.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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