UNION representatives are urging disgruntled Thomas
Cook staff to put pen to paper to vent their feelings on the company’s pay
freeze.
The move comes as the multiple presses ahead with
advertising for 700 new staff for its annual modern apprenticeship scheme, four
months after slashing nearly 2,000 jobs.
The Transport Salaried Staff’s Association has sent a
circular to all branches asking staff to write to chief executive Alan Stewart
if they are unhappy with the pay freeze, in place until next year. The TSSA
intends to collect the letters from staff and present them to Thomas Cook
bosses.
But Thomas Cook said it would welcome feedback on the
issue and also hoped to reward staff who supported the pay cuts if it turned in
a strong end-of-year trading performance.
A spokeswoman said: “We would encourage staff to
contact Alan. The offer of a reward is also genuine to recognise the sacrifice
people have made.”
The multiple restored pay to pre-September 11 levels
on March 1 after a stronger than expected trading performance. Its financial
year ends on October 31 2002.
But it was criticised by the TSSA for freezing pay and
not backdating the restored cut. Union negotiator Seyi Clement said: “Our
members have been working doubly hard to cover the non-replacement of staff and
although the pay cuts have been restored, they are not backdated. We think it’s
the wrong time to freeze pay.”
Thomas Cook claimed the freeze, unlike the pay cuts,
was unrelated to September 11 and was part of a strategy to save £140 million
in the financial year.
It said very few compulsory redundancies had come from
shops and defended its move to continue the annual recruitment programme for
new trainees in its 700 shops.
The multiple expects to recruit 480-500 modern
apprentices from its 700 target. The trainees work two nine-month stints in an
initiative run with TTC Training. They are paid an “allowance” of under £8,000
a year while completing National Vocational Qualifications.
TTC Training general manager funded programmes Sharon
White said: “Thomas Cook has had a recruitment freeze but it’s now ready to
take on new apprentices. It believes it will need them going forward and plans
to have about one new recruit in every shop.”
White added Lunn Poly was looking for about 600 new
trainees.
The TSSA said it was encouraged by Thomas Cook’s
decision to continue the training initiative but understood any bitterness felt
by redundant staff.
Clement added: “We understand people’s concerns
following redundancies but the travel trade is not the best paid industry
around and needs to catch people young and tap into their interests in travel.
The money would come from a training budget rather than a head-office budget.
We are more encouraged they are keeping it going.”