Liquidators pay Thomas Cook staff more than £18 million
Thomas Cook staff have received interim payments of more than £18 million from the firm’s liquidators, which has processed 99% of 5,000 claims for redundancy payments.
The majority of Thomas Cook’s 9,000 UK employees lost their jobs when the firm collapsed with debts of £1.7 billion.
However, there are over 1,500 Thomas Cook staff still being employed by the liquidator to help wind-up the company and assist with the repatriation.
They have been given notice that their jobs are at risk of redundancy and ‘consultation of sorts’ is taking place with them, said the union TSSA.
Speaking after attending a meeting of the Government’s Thomas Cook Taskforce in Manchester yesterday which discussed jobs, redundancy and compensation payments for former workers, TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: "I once again pressed Government Ministers and the liquidator to pay our members what they are owed.
"I am pleased that the liquidator told me that they have now processed 99% of the 5000 claims they’ve had for redundancy payments.
"They have made interim payments totalling over £18 million with more to follow. However, not every worker who lost their job has applied for redundancy. It’s vital they do so as quickly as possible.
"Those who were dismissed without notice or consultation have a legal claim for compensation and we have asked the liquidator not to contest such claims. This will result in payments being made to our members in a more timely fashion and without having to resort to litigation.
"Of course, if they don’t, we will take legal action on behalf of our members at no cost to them which shows yet again the benefit of being part of our TSSA union family. The liquidator has agreed to consider our request and respond to our union in writing."
TSSA also challenged the liquidator to give assurances in writing that they won’t contest protective award claims – a compensation award of up to 90 days’ gross pay for failure to inform and consult in cases of dismissal on the grounds of redundancy.
It was also revealed that Thomas Cook had a support and wellbeing programme for staff that has been kept going by the liquidator until at least the end of this month.
See also: Spain plans multi-million-euro lifeline for companies hit by Thomas Cook failure
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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