Gate Gourmet seeks 675 voluntary redundancies to end dispute

Embattled airline caterer Gate Gourmet is to axe 675 jobs in a bid to put its UK operations back in the black.

Gate Gourmet is offering voluntary redundancy to its 1,400 employees as it tries to resolve the industrial dispute that saw 667 workers sacked after a wildcat strike on 10 August.

The deal, negotiated last week with unions, opens the door to resolving the clash, which caused massive disruption for British Airways (BA), grounding flights.

BA, which has subsequently revised its supply contract with the caterer, has put pressure on Gate Gourmet to take back the sacked workers.

Gate Gourmet said: "This will allow the company to address its ongoing staffing needs in a way that is fair to all employees and stem the losses that have put the company on the brink of administration."

However, the fate of the militant workers branded troublemakers by the company remains unresolved, with talks due to continue with the T&G union at the end of this week.