Union Unite has called on banks to “give breathing space” to Thomas Cook workers struggling to pay bills and mortgages following the travel giant’s collapse on Monday.
The union said it plans to move an emergency motion condemning the government’s inaction at the Labour party conference on Wednesday.
It will demand airlines in financial difficulty can continue operating in a form of protective administration rather than collapsing into insolvency.
Assistant general secretary, Diana Holland, said: “The indifference of the government to UK jobs and business is shameful. Ministers’ ‘do nothing’ attitude and corporate mismanagement means loyal Thomas Cook workers face not being paid next week and being stranded overseas.
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“We call on airlines and the government to assist in getting all Thomas Cook workers quickly home to the UK free of charge.
“Banks can also play their part by giving Thomas Cook workers, struggling to pay their bills and mortgages, the breathing space they need and we call on the insolvency service to pay their wages as soon as possible.
“The government must learn the lessons of the collapse of Monarch and the profitable airline arm of Thomas Cook. We need to put in place arrangements that avoid UK airlines collapsing at huge cost to the taxpayer, workers and customers alike.
“The Scandinavian and German subsidiaries of Thomas Cook are still flying. Ministers must legislate as necessary to allow UK airlines in financial trouble to trade in protective administration. Other countries do it as a matter of course. We should do it in the UK.”