Monarch pilots’ union launches legal action

A union is launching legal action on behalf of more than 1,800 Monarch airline workers who lost their jobs after the firm went into administration earlier this week.

Unite, which represents about 1,800 engineers and cabin crew who worked for Monarch, announced it will begin employment tribunal proceedings over an alleged failure by the company to consult on redundancies.

Meanwhile, pilots’ union Balpa claimed that some of its Monarch members were left with a bill of almost £40 after being asked to call a premium rate line to join a telephone conference in which their redundancies were announced.

Under UK law, companies with more than 100 employees must give at least 45 days’ notice of their intention to make people redundant. Administrator KPMG made 1,858 workers redundant on Monday, hours after Monarch’s collapse was announced.

Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: “Through no fault of their own, former Monarch workers are out of pocket and out of a job.

“The manner in which Monarch went into administration and the way the government allowed it to happen means there is a strong claim for compensation by former Monarch workers.

“We would urge former Monarch workers to lodge their details with Unite to help ensure they get the financial compensation they are legally entitled to.”