UNION
officials are increasing the pressure on Thomas Cook UK to boost staff pay in
line with their German counterparts.
The
Transport Salaried Staff Association said it was happy to “raise the stakes
further” following talks with Thomas Cook UK on Friday.
Staff
in Germany were awarded a 2.4% pay rise this year. But UK employees will not
receive an increase in 2002 because of the company’s financial situation.
TSSA
negotiations officer Seyi Clement said: “We feel they are taking advantage of
the legal system here because unlike Germany there is no obligation to give
staff a pay rise. We’re prepared to have a back-loaded pay increase which means
the company pays more next year.”
The TSSA said members had been forced to get second
jobs – including stacking shelves – to supplement their income. It has not
ruled out industrial action. A Thomas Cook spokeswoman said: “Other recognised
unions support us. The feedback we’ve had from staff is they want to be part of
our future and staff turnover is less than it’s been in years.”