TRAVEL STAFF FACE JOBS AXE
HAYS PREPARES TO CUT NEARLY 900 POSTS
Renfrewshire’s travel sector has been dealt another devastating blow as Hays Travel announces plans to slash almost 900 jobs.
The firm, which has outlets in Johnstone, Paisley and Braehead, says one fifth of its 4,500-strong workforce will go as the business struggles with the impact of coronavirus.
It is the second local travel agent to confirm job cuts - following a similar announcement from Barrhead Travel - and the latest in a long line of companies based at Glasgow Airport shredding 500 jobs at a rapid rate.
The news has devastated
employees at Hays’ Johnstone and Paisley shops in particular as both were taken over by the company when Thomas Cook collapsed last year.
Yesterday, the firm’s owners John and Irene Hays said they had “made every possible effort” to protect the jobs of all the firm’s staff, “including those who were employed when Hays Travel took on the Thomas Cook shops last October”.
They said: “We are devastated that after all of our efforts and the huge investment we’ve made we now face losing some of our valued employees, through no fault of their own.
“Following the decision to ban travel to Spain and the changes in furlough conditions coming at the same time, we have had no choice.
“We are also devastated for everyone who may lose their job and we will do all we can in consultations to help them, as we focus on retaining as many people as possible and rebuilding consumer confidence through our renowned friendly and knowledgeable customer service.”
The company hit the headlines after taking over 550 Thomas Cook stores nine months ago.
The married couple were hailed ‘ heroes of the high street’ after saving thousands of jobs that would have been axed otherwise.
But many of those jobs will now go under the proposals.
The Sunderland- based company said it was now consulting with 344 staff training as travel consultants and the 534 who work in the foreign exchange division.
Its experienced travel sales staff, apprentices and other head office staff are not affected by the cuts.
The news comes after Bar rhead Travel also confirmed it was looking for redundancies across its network of 76 stores, which includes outlets at Braehead and Glasgow Airport.
The company, which has its headquarters in Barrhead Main Street, also said the Scottish Government ’s requirement that people self-isolate for 14 days after returning from Spain had had a massive impact on their operations.
That decision and a sharp fall in demand for foreign travel has also seen easyJet, one of Glasgow Airport’s biggest airlines, slash jobs at the Paisley transport hub.
The airline is currently consulting with employees over its plans to axe 1,300 crew and 727 pilots.
Jet2, which grounded flights from Glasgow Airport to Spain last week, is cutting around 100 pilot jobs and as many as 380 cabin crew staff.
And the support services contracted by the airlines at the airport are collectively letting more than 500 people go.