JOB FEARS FOR STAFF AT CITY AIRPORT CAR PARK
UP to 20 workers at a facility near Glasgow Airport face being made redundant, claims a National Car Parks employee. NCP allegedly plans on axing up to 20 staff at the airport, including 10 bus drivers. Employees have been on furlough since the start of lockdown with the area being used as a Covid-19 testing site.
A NCP bus driver, who asked not to be named, said: “I work in a team of 10 bus drivers and we have been told this week that we face redundancies. We think being faced with redundancies is very unfair.
“Right up until the lockdown we were taking passengers up to the long-stay car park, including rescue flights with no PPE and putting ourselves at risk. Everyone came to work and carried out their duties. When we were put on furlough the long-stay car park became a testing centre and we were told our jobs were safe.”
The bus driver alleges that in February this year staff drove passengers from a rescue flight arriving from the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel in Spain where 1000 people were quarantined following a visitor who tested positive for coronavirus.
He said: “We feel that NCP just wants to get rid of people and are using this pandemic as something to hide behind.
“It seems strange to me that an employer would make their workers redundant at this time due to the fact the furlough scheme has been extended until October and due to the fact we cannot work as the long-stay car park is being used as a testing site.”
The bus driver said around 40 people work for NCP at Glasgow Airport which means about half of the staff will be let go.
He claims for those who remain, hours will be rolled back. He pleaded with NCP to keep the staff on until the furlough scheme ends.
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “My sympathies firstly go to the workers and their families who now face an uncertain future due to these proposed redundancies.
“My office is ready to help any constituents who need it as I am sure are other elected members.
“Unfortunately, this is only the latest blow for aviation workers and sadly it is unlikely to be the last.
“It must be clear to the Chancellor by now that aviation faces its biggest crisis since the Second World War, yet so far we have heard nothing about the ‘bespoke support package’ he and his Government promised at the start of lockdown.”
We feel that NCP just wants to get rid of people