Former Thomas Cook Staff Struggle to Find Jobs

Thomas Cook collapsed six weeks ago, but a survey by British labor body Unite has revealed that many of its former employees are facing severe difficulties in finding work. Unite assistant general secretary Diana Holland said that these findings show “the human misery” at the root of the collapse.

Thomas Cook collapsed on September 23rd, but an online survey by British labor body Unite reveals that the airline’s former employees are facing severe difficulties in finding work. In a statement, Unite said that 300 of its members had been contacted to take part in the survey, which found that 93% of those responding had yet to find another job with a different carrier.

According to the results, 67% of participants said that they have not been able to find any employment while just 10% of respondents indicated that they are now in full-time work. While 42% of those surveyed said they had had interviews within the airline industry, Unite says that this figure has not been translated into secure employment.

Furthermore, Unite’s findings indicate that six weeks on from the carrier’s collapse, many former Thomas Cook employees are now experiencing financial hardship and are struggling to access much-needed social benefits.

The survey also indicates that the airline’s former employees, “…are particularly bitter about their experiences as the airline was highly profitable and there were five potential buyers for the business. Despite this the [British] government allowed the airline to collapse into compulsory liquidation along with the rest of the group.”

Commenting on the results of the survey, Diana Holland, Unite’s assistant general secretary, said, “The survey demonstrates the human misery caused by the collapse of Thomas Cook. Highly skilled and dedicated workers, who lost their jobs through no fault of their own and without warning are finding it incredibly difficult to return to employment. The struggle of workers to return to employment further highlights both the government’s failure to understand the nature of the Thomas Cook business and a complete absence of political will.”

“We must take the steps needed to prevent the shocking reality of a viable profitable airline being forced into compulsory insolvency with the terrible loss of jobs and the major cost of repatriating passengers,” she added.