The trade union, UNITE, staged a day of action yesterday at Manchester Airport in support of the hard-hit travel industry.
The union is calling for tailored support for the industry brought to its knees by the Covid 19 pandemic and is demanding greater transparency in the government’s traffic lights travel restriction scheme.
Unite also wants the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to be extended for the aviation sector beyond the current cut-off date of September, while government restrictions are preventing travel, to protect jobs, routes and airports and to ensure that the UK still has a viable industry when travel can safely return to normality.
🎥 Hear from our @unitetheunion reps why they were taking part in the #traveldayofaction at @manairport today
— Unite North West (@Unite_NorthWest) June 23, 2021
They are asking for:
✈️ tailored support for the industry
🚦proper implementation of the traffic light system to allow safe travel#speakupfortravel pic.twitter.com/Uq516FvzPi
Unite members and their supporters also took part, with other unions and the TUC, in a lobby of parliament organised by trade association Airlines UK, and the travel industry.
The protest was backed by Wythenshawe MP Mike Kane, Labour’s spokesperson for aviation. He said: “1.6 million jobs depend on the UK’s aviation sector which contributes £22 billion to the UK economy. This is why I am supporting #traveldayofaction.”
I was glad to be able to support #TravelDayOfAction today. pic.twitter.com/S5YMZOthKd
— Mike Kane (@MikeKaneMP) June 23, 2021
Unite assistant general secretary Diana Holland said: “It is totally unprecedented for all areas of the aviation sector and the travel industry to come together with a joint call of action for the government.
“Hopes of a gradual recovery in the aviation sector have been placed in the deep freeze as a direct result of government policies. Therefore the government has a moral duty to act and act swiftly.
“Aviation is essential to the long-term success of the UK’s economy, and to keeping people connected. If a meaningful, sustainable and resilient industry is going to be in place when travel can return, then the government must provide immediate support for the workers who will make this happen.”