Axed airline staff win compensation

Ground staff axed from low-cost airline Buzz following its takeover by Ryanair have won “considerable compensation”, a union announced today.

One hundred and forty baggage handlers and other ground service workers at Stansted Airport in Essex were sacked after Dutch airline KLM sold Buzz to the Irish carrier last April.

Following the move the GMB took Ryanair and KLM to an employment tribunal over what it called the “unnecessary sackings” of its members.

All cases have now been settled out of court, the GMB said today.

Ed Blisset, senior organiser at the GMB, said the union had got justice for the workers.

“However, this satisfactory compensation package is cold comfort for our members who were sacked,” he said.

“Ryanair’s unnecessary sackings paint an accurate picture of a callous and malevolent employer who doesn’t give a damn for anyone or anything apart from making a profit.

“The GMB will distribute the considerable compensation to our members.”

One of the sacked workers, who did not wish to be named, indicated that the payout was equivalent to three weeks’ wages for each person.