Britain’s largest union, Unite announced today (Wednesday 4 October) that it was launching legal action on behalf of more than 1,800 Monarch airline workers who lost their jobs after the firm went in to administration earlier in the week.
Unite, which represents around 1,800 engineers and cabin crew who worked for Monarch, is lodging employment tribunal proceedings over a failure to consult on redundancies.
Under UK law, employers with more than 100 employees must give a statutory minimum 45 days’ notice of their intention to make people redundant. Employees with two years of service or more are entitled to statutory redundancy pay.
Unite national officer, Oliver Richardson, said: “Through no fault of their own, former Monarch workers are out of pocket and out of a job.
“While, understandably, a lot of the focus is on passengers, Unite is determined to ensure that Monarch workers, who worked so hard to try and turn the airline around, are not left high and dry.
“That is why Unite is doing everything it can to assist former Monarch workers in securing new jobs, offering free legal advice and launching legal action to secure the compensation they are owed, as well as helping members find jobs with other airlines.
“The manner in which Monarch went into administration and the way the government allowed it happen means there is a strong claim for compensation by former Monarch workers.
“We would urge former Monarch workers to lodge their details with Unite to help ensure they get the financial compensation they are legally entitled to.”
