Shadow Chancellor visits Gatwick and backs support for aviation sector

Labour’s Shadow Chancellor has backed support for the country’s aviation sector during a visit to Gatwick.
Peter Lamb, Anneliese Dodds and Michael JonesPeter Lamb, Anneliese Dodds and Michael Jones
Peter Lamb, Anneliese Dodds and Michael Jones

Anneliese Dodds met with senior Crawley Labour figures at an empty Gatwick Airport terminal on Friday (July 24) to discuss plans to save Crawley’s jobs.

With so much of the town’s economy connected to aviation, the rate of predicted job losses as a result of the pandemic is one of the highest in the country.

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Thousands of redundancies have already been announced at a number of major airlines, while other companies have imposed drastic changes to working conditions.

Ms Dodds said: “Sectors hardest hit by Covid-19, such as aviation, need their own deal to protect jobs and working conditions. Labour has already set out a six-condition plan for aviation which would save thousands of jobs connected to the sector in Crawley, while forcing companies to clean up their act on tax avoidance and the environment.”

For months, Crawley’s politicians, businesses and trade organisations have been calling for Government action to avoid mass unemployment and to rebuild the town’s economy, but little response has been received.

From the start of August the furlough support scheme will only cover 60 per cent of a worker’s salary. With Government flight restrictions severely limiting the ability of the sector to compete, many employers will have to choose between maintaining a payroll they can no longer afford or making big cuts to their workforces.

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Peter Lamb, Labour leader of Crawley Borough Council, said: “I’m very grateful to the Shadow Chancellor for meeting us and lending her support to our call that the Government acts now to save local jobs and protect working conditions. We are just days away from the furlough scheme winding down, the Government can’t afford to delay any longer.”

Michael Jones, Labour group leader at West Sussex County Council, added: “This isn’t just an issue for the area immediately surrounding Gatwick, many industries and jobs are linked to the airport right across the region, including all of West Sussex.

“We must also fully support those campaigning to stop companies like British Airways trying to force through the rehiring of their remaining workers on worse terms and conditions. It’s massively unacceptable for the Government to allow anyone to use the furlough scheme and then act in this way.”

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