Impact of COVID-19 - Airport Workers

Dr Onkar Sahota AM moved, and Unmesh Desai AM seconded, the following motion:

"This Assembly is deeply concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers at London’s airports and on their communities, and the knock-on effects this will have on the London economy.

This Assembly notes that it has been a deeply difficult time for the airline industry and that it is vital, going forward, that there is a real plan to protect jobs. This Assembly further notes that, following the Chancellor’s announcement last month of the creation of the Job Support Scheme, the unions have called on Heathrow Airport Limited to halt its ‘brutal’ plans to fire and re-hire thousands of workers.

This Assembly agrees for the Chair of the Assembly to write to John Holland-Kaye, Chief Executive Officer of Heathrow Airport, calling on him to withdraw the section 188 notices that have been issued to workers, and to ensure that there are no changes to those workers’ pay and terms and conditions. The Assembly also calls on the Mayor of London to write to Mr Holland-Kaye to urge him to do everything in his power to protect jobs.

This Assembly also agrees for the Chair of the London Assembly to write to the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, asking him to lay out his long term plan for protecting these jobs and this industry going forward, and calling on him to extend the 80% furlough scheme for 12 months for workers in the aviation industry, with an option to ‘taper’ where needed.”

Following debate and upon being put to a vote, the motion was agreed (12 votes cast in favour and 6 votes cast against).