Unite lashes out at Government for Monarch demise
Unite the union has hit out at the Government, blaming it for contributing to the demise of Monarch.
It believes uncertainty over Brexit, specifically relating to the ‘open skies’ agreement, deterred potential investors and buyers from supporting the airline, which has been operating for 50 years.
It also accused the Government of ‘sitting on its hands’ and rebuffing requests by Monarch to provide a bridging loan, at commercial rates, to tide the company over while a restructure took place.
Unite represents around 1,800 engineers and cabin crew working for the airline.
"Monarch’s workforce has worked tirelessly and loyally, with great sacrifice, to try and turn the airline around in the last year," said Unite national officer Oliver Richardson.
"Their hard work has been undone by a government seemingly content to sit on its hands and allow one of the UK’s oldest airlines go into administration.
"There were a number of factors that impacted negatively on the company, however continuing uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the ability of UK airlines to fly freely in Europe after the UK has left the EU, undoubtedly hindered Monarch getting the investment it needed to restructure and survive.
"This uncertainty combined with the apparent unwillingness of the government to assist at commercial rates and at a profit to the taxpayer, has left thousands of jobs at a great British airline hanging by a thread.
"Now is not the time for government ministers to wash their hands of a problem they have contributed to. Ministers need to act fast by intervening in a similar way as their German counterparts did with Air Berlin and help secure a future for Monarch.
"The government must also secure the current freedoms to fly that UK airlines enjoy in Brexit negotiations as a matter of urgency to stabilise confidence in the airline industry.
"In the meantime Unite will be working day and night to support and assist our members at Monarch through this deeply upsetting and unsettling time."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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