New union lifts off in style

A voluntary recognition deal covering more than 1,000 cabin crew has been reached between Thomas Cook Airlines and the new union Unite.

Signed on 1 May, the day that Unite was formed by the merger of the T&G and Amicus general unions, the agreement was reached following an organising campaign run by both unions.

Joint general secretary Derek Simpson called the deal “a symbol of our intention to bring the benefits of union membership to working people in every field using the combined resources of our new union”.

Thomas Cook Airlines said it was “delighted with the agreement”, adding that “a single union representing all our cabin crew will establish more efficient and representative lines of communication”.

• Unite has also won the right to negotiate pay for staff at Gatwick Refuelling Services after they threatened to strike (see last month’s Workplace Report). A deal was reached following talks aided by the conciliation service ACAS.