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Monarch collapse: union launches legal action over redundancies Monarch collapse: union launches legal action over redundancies
(about 2 hours later)
A union has launched legal action on behalf of more than 1,800 Monarch staff who were laid off, in a move that could add millions to the taxpayers’ bill for the collapse of the airline.A union has launched legal action on behalf of more than 1,800 Monarch staff who were laid off, in a move that could add millions to the taxpayers’ bill for the collapse of the airline.
Unite, which represents engineers and cabin crew who worked for the airline, said the company had broken the law by failing to consult on redundancies.Unite, which represents engineers and cabin crew who worked for the airline, said the company had broken the law by failing to consult on redundancies.
It has also emerged that some staff were told to call a premium rate phone line to hear news of their redundancy, with some billed almost £40 for the call. It has also emerged that some staff were told to call a premium-rate phone line to hear news of their redundancy, with some billed almost £40 for the call. The administrators KPMG have since pledged to reimburse the call costs.
Instead of the obligatory 45-day notice period, administrators KPMG made 1,853 Monarch staff redundant on Monday. The accountancy firm was called in more than a month ago by Monarch bosses to consider whether the airline should be wound up, before it was put into administration on Monday morning. Instead of the obligatory 45-day notice period, KPMG made 1,853 Monarch staff redundant on Monday. The accountancy firm was called in more than a month ago by Monarch bosses to consider whether the airline should be wound up, before it was put into administration on Monday morning.
Unite said it would be seeking additional compensation, which is likely to run into millions of pounds and, the union said, would be met by government with the airline bankrupt. Unite said it would be seeking additional compensation, which was likely to run into millions of pounds and, the union said, would be met by the government, with the airline bankrupt.
Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: “Through no fault of their own, former Monarch workers are out of pocket and out of a job. The union’s national officer, Oliver Richardson, said: “Through no fault of their own, former Monarch workers are out of pocket and out of a job. The manner in which Monarch went into administration and the way the government allowed it happen means there is a strong claim for compensation ... 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.”
“The manner in which Monarch went into administration and the way the government allowed it happen means there is a strong claim for compensation ... 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.”
A similar case brought on behalf of 1,100 former Redcar steelworkers last year ended with a £6m payout.A similar case brought on behalf of 1,100 former Redcar steelworkers last year ended with a £6m payout.
The claim will add to the bill for taxpayers, at a point when the government has already paid £60m for the flight operation to repatriate Monarch customers from overseas. The claim will add to the bill for taxpayers, at a point when the government has paid £60m for the flight operation to repatriate Monarch stranded customers.
Although officials are holding talks with credit card companies, which may have otherwise faced claims from customers to reimburse flight costs, Department for Transport officials were unable to give assurances that any money would be recouped. Although officials are holding talks with credit card companies, which may have otherwise faced claims from customers to reimburse flight costs, the Department for Transport was unable to give assurances that any money would be recouped.
The pilots’ union Balpa has hit out at the “unbelievably cold-hearted” manner in which some staff were told of their redundancy. An email sent in the early hours of Monday to all staff requested them to attend a meeting or call in to a conference call at 9am, promising a further conference call for those unable to make the earlier event. Asked if any commitment or indication had been given by card companies that they would assist, a spokesman said only that work was ongoing to help fund the costs of repatriating their customers.
The second call was on an 0844 number that charged around 50p a minute on some mobile networks, leaving one Monarch pilot with a bill for £38.90 for the call. He added: “These are costs that would otherwise have fallen to them to reimburse in many cases. Given the unprecedented demand on the aviation market Monarch’s collapse created, the government was forced to step in to help bring back 110,000 people. It is right for us to minimise the impact on government and taxpayers.”
Balpa’s general secretary, Brian Strutton, said the call and charges to staff were a “kick in the teeth” when they were already down”. He added: “This is unbelievably cold-hearted and I’m asking the administrators – KPMG – to rectify this. I think an apology is also in order.” KPMG has agreed to refund the phone bills of Monarch employees who were charged almost £40 to hear news of their redundancy, which the pilots’ union, Balpa, denounced as “unbelievably cold-hearted”.
The Civil Aviation Association said 23,321 Monarch customers had been returned to the UK, on more than 119 flights, by Wednesday morning. A further 11,000 are to return later on Wednesday. An email sent in the early hours of Monday to all staff requested them to attend a meeting or contact a conference call at 9am, promising a further conference call for those unable to make the earlier event.
The second call was on an 0844 number that charged about 50p a minute on some mobile networks, leaving one Monarch pilot with a bill for £38.90 for the call.
Balpa’s general secretary, Brian Strutton, said the call and charges to staff were a “kick in the teeth” when they “were already down”. He added: “This is unbelievably cold-hearted and I’m asking the administrators, KPMG, to rectify this. I think an apology is also in order.”
KMPG said it had asked a third-party provider to set up the conference call. A spokeswoman said: “We have since been made aware that each of the participants was charged an additional sum by their phone company to join the call. We will ensure all participants are refunded any additional costs they incurred.”
The Civil Aviation Association said 23,321 Monarch customers had been returned to the UK, on more than 119 flights, by Wednesday morning. A further 11,000 were to return later on Wednesday.