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Thomas Cook insists looming strike won’t hit holidays
Thomas Cook Airlines claims that it has plans in place to make sure its customers will still be able to go on holiday if the cabin crew union Unite carries out a threatened strike, but it has not specified yet what those contingency measures will be.
Union members have voted in favour of a strike over the airline’s decision to cut inflight rest breaks for cabin crew.
The union said around half its Thomas Cook union members voted in the strike ballot, with 74% of those backing industrial action.
However, a strike won’t affect travel this coming half-term as the union must give Thomas Cook seven days notice of any industrial action and no notice has been served.
A Unite spokesman said union officials will hold talks with the airline and the conciliation service Acas today and next Tuesday to try to avert a strike.
It claims Thomas Cook has reduced breaks for cabin crew to one 20-minute rest for every 11 hours and 59 minutes worked, the minimum recommended by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The union wants crew to have at least two 20-minute breaks.
A spokesman for Thomas Cook Airlines said: "We’re disappointed Unite cabin crew members have taken the decision to vote for strike action.
"The safety of both our people and our customers is our top priority and we rigorously adhere to the rules around crew breaks.
He said the airline was "committed" to working with Unite to find a solution to end the dispute.
"Meanwhile, we’ve put together plans to ensure that our customers will still be able to go on holiday, despite any possible strike action."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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