TSSA wins £240,000 for airline workers

20 London-based employees of Cyprus Turkish Airlines agreed a £240,000 settlement when they were laid off by the bankrupt airline following intervention of their UK trade union.

The workers are Cypriot nationals and were life-long members of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association.

Anna Power at Morrish Solicitors, acting for the TSSA’s members, today said “When Cyprus Turkish Airlines’ parent company went into substantial financial difficulty in August 2010, these UK-based employees could not get any information about what was going on. The only information they could get was through the press.

Power said “TSSA took their employer to the Employment Tribunal on the grounds of unfair dismissal, unpaid wages, notice pay, outstanding holiday pay and a Protective Award. The cheque has been received by the TSSA members and they will divide the total amount between them.”

Tony Wheeler of the TSSA today said “I want to congratulate our solicitors, Morrish of Leeds, for winning a pay off for our members who were left high and dry with the closure of Cyprus Turkey Airlines. It is never easy dealing with overseas companies but in this case our members have rightly been compensated.”