TRAVEL agent bosses are being urged to sign up to a
ground-breaking agreement to introduce minimum employment standards across the
industry.
Travel trade union Transport Salaried Staffs’
Association aims to dramatically reduce the trade’s high staff turnover with
the launch of its Travel Trade Charter.
The charter includes minimum standards for training
and development, career structures, staff consultation and improved job
security through consultation.
It also includes transparent pay structures, equal
opportunities, union recognition as well as family-friendly and flexible
working practices.
Secretary of state for culture, media and sport Tessa
Jowell and Trade Union Congress general-secretary Brendan Barber have thrown
their weight behind the plan.
The TSSA is also approaching industry-leading
organisations including ABTA, Tourism Alliance and Tourism Concern for their
support.
New TSSA general-secretary Gerry Doherty said minimum
employment standards are drastically needed to reduce the trade’s high staff
turnover – estimated at 30% every year.
“There needs to be recognition that the high staff
turnover in the industry is the cause of instability,” he said. “There are no
proper training standards and there is job insecurity. The majority of staff
earn around £10,000 a year and there is a great deal of overtime worked – most
of it unpaid.
“There needs to be standards for training, wages and
terms and conditions that reflect the industry’s needs,” he added.
However, the charter has received a mixed response
from the trade with ABTA welcoming the move while TUI UK questioned the need
for more regulation.
ABTA chief executive Ian Reynolds said: “It is
fundamental all staff have access to good training, fair pay and
family-friendly policies.”
Midconsort chief executive Charles Eftichiou backed
the charter but warned the TSSA against using it as a vehicle to drive up
wages.
“In principle it’s a good idea,” he said. “Staff are
on lower-than-average wages compared to similar industries. But this is a
delicate time to increase costs.”
Suffolk-based Johnson Stevens Travel general manager
Peter Cansick said: “Career structures are needed as there are still issues
about staff not feeling valued.
An agent shouldn’t come into an office and still be
flogging holidays five years later,” he said.
However, TUI UK retail sales director Miles Morgan
questioned its value.
“There is legislation surrounding all of the issues.
Do we need standards on top of the legislation?”
It’s likely the charter will be launched at the
union’s annual conference in Belfast next month.