Up to 35 cabin crew jobs at risk of redundancy across Scottish airports have been saved thanks to life skills training courses supported by the government in Scotland.
Loganair workers through the Unite union negotiated with the airline to use a Scottish Covid response fund to mitigate compulsory redundancies and provide a range of opportunities to learn new skills.
Companies including Loganair signed no compulsory redundancy agreements with Unite as a result of securing funding, giving many workers job security
The content of 13 courses were tailored to fit in with the role of cabin crew including safety information being translated into British sign language as well as learning the basics that could be transferred into other situations outside of the job. Other courses provided by City of Glasgow college included autism awareness, Spanish and employability skills.
Loganair chief operations officer Maurice Boyle said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has been a hugely challenging time for our industry, yet we’re heartened that we have been able to safeguard jobs within Loganair through excellent co-operation with our recognised unions and employee groups.
“The initiatives with Unite to up-skill Loganair cabin crew members through training with City of Glasgow College on life skills including sign language and autism awareness will genuinely bring significant benefits to the individuals, to our customers and to Loganair across the months and years ahead as we rebuild and recover from the pandemic.”
Unite industrial officer Pat McIlvogue said: “The news that 35 jobs in Loganair have been saved through our joint working is very welcome news for cabin crew workers.
“Aviation was one of the first industries to have been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, and it will be one of the last to recover so innovative initiatives like up-skilling workers through learning sign language and autism awareness to prepare for the upturn is vital.
“Unite has repeatedly urged the Scottish government and companies like Loganair to work together in order to save jobs and this has been an excellent example of joint working.”