Thomas Cook Staff To Consider Offer

After ten hours of talks at the Labour Relations Court, a proposal to quell the anger of redundant Dublin travel agency staff is to be put forward.

The dispute over redundancy packages resulted in a four day sit in at Thomas Cook’s shop in Grafton Street, which ended in staff, including a pregnant woman, being manhandled out of the premises by a large number of Garda.

Thomas Cook management and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) finally agreed a proposal late last night and the union is to put it to its members at a meeting this morning.

However, according to reports, Thomas Cook is claiming the deal is no different from what was on offer before the dispute began.

The 77 staff will be offered five weeks per year of service plus a month's pay as the result of the closure a month ahead of schedule of its two stores in Grafton Street and Talbot Street.

Unions and workers had complained that Thomas Cooks claims it could not afford better redundancy payments were unfounded after the travel agent's top executive took home £7 million last year. Staff were holding out for eight weeks per year of service.

The company is due to announce its quarterly results later today.

Despite the company's claims, TSSA General Secretary Gerry Doherty said it was not the same deal and there had been "some movement" on the part of the company.

"We are pleased that there is a now the chance of resolving this dispute and achieving justice for a group of workers who have fought magnificently for their cause," he said.

Thomas Cook UK and Ireland Chief Executive Pete Constanti reiterated previous comments he made that the deal on offer was generous.

"We have honoured a redundancy package based on five weeks of pay per year of service.

"This equals the value of that which was offered prior to the unofficial action and the illegal occupation of the Grafton Street store," he said.

(DW/BMcC)