Support floods in for customers and staff hit by travel firm closure
COMMUNITIES across Glasgow and beyond are rallying together to support those affected by the collapse of travel giant Thomas Cook.
On Monday it was announced that the world’s oldest travel company had ceased trading after 178 years in operation.
Around 2400 people in Glasgow are thought to have had their holidays hit, while staff at six locations across the city are also facing unemployment.
Messages of support for those who have been left without travel plans or a job are continuing to flood in.
But one local company has gone the extra mile to help those struggling following the announcement.
Gryffe Radio Cars in Linwood has announced it is offering 20 free holidays to those who have lost out on a trip with Thomas Cook.
The taxi company has said that it will pay for 20 weeklong trips, with passes for as many as six people per family to Craig Tara caravan park in Ayrshire.
Owner Andrew Hainey said: “We are a local, family run company and saw what was happening and we wanted to give back.
“The amount of positive responses has been incredible.
“I know how I would feel if I had a holiday booked and it had been cancelled.
“We are trying to do our bit. It’ll be first come first served, but with so many people coming forward we’ll have to look at each case.
“People have had weddings booked and all sorts, they are distraught and really hard.”
Mr Hainey at Gryffe has also said the company will offer interviews to any workers left out of a job following the closure, with a number of vacancies at the business.
Across the world Thomas Cook has 22,000 staff who could now be without work, including 9000 in the UK. In Glasgow and the surrounding area companies are offering help.
Popular South Side nightclub The Shed is welcoming Thomas Cook staff to it’s been the venue on Friday.
Bosses say they felt it their responsibility to put some smiles on faces that really need it, offering a free night out for any Thomas Cook staff this Friday.
The offer includes free entry, queue skip, cloakroom and four complimentary drinks on us.
Paul Smyth, general manager, said: “This offer has gone out on our facebook page this morning and we hope the Thomas Cook staff take us up on it.
“We can only imagine how
letters@ eveningtimes. co.uk or
on Facebook or Twitter bad the news was to take, and im sure its been a bad week for everyone involved.
“It really is the least we can do and we just hope we can take their mind off it for a couple of hours this Friday night.”
Other travel companies across the country have already stepped in to offer affected staff a route back into work.
Reports suggest that EasyJet is one of the businesses with whom Thomas Cook workers could now relocate.