Thomas Cook withdraws drinks dispensers from shop floors

Thomas Cook bosses have been labelled penny-pinching scrooges following a nationwide withdrawal of shop-floor water coolers for staff.

The company started removing the drinking water dispensers, which can cost under £5 a week to lease, from its 600 stores last week, while temperatures soared to 32C in some parts of the country.

Travel trade union the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association is fuming at the com-pany’s actions, designed to cut costs in a year the UK operation announced record profits and margins.

Chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa has stated it is on target to “significantly” beat last year’s record £51 million profit and achieve margins of almost 5% in 2005.

TSSA negotiations officer Jerry Wines criticised Thomas Cook for failing to consult with the union and for taking basic staff rights away from its lowest-paid workers, with many earning less than £10,000 a year.

“It’s penny-pinching to remove drinking water for it lowest-paid workers,” he said. “I wonder if senior managers are giving back their company cars.”

Wines is also concerned about the impact no shop-floor drinking water facilities will have on working practices. Staff will have to leave the shop floor to get a drink of water, which might not be possible if there are customers in the shop.

“People work their best when they are fully hydrated as it allows them to concentrate,” Wines said. “The blanket removal of shop-floor drinking water could have a serious impact on productivity and morale. Staff may feel they are unable to leave their desk and the shop floor to get a drink.”
A Thomas Cook spokeswoman said: “I can confirm Thomas Cook stores no longer have water coolers as low usage has led to a considerable increase in the cost of providing them. However, drinking water is available in all Thomas Cook stores.”