Labour analysis shows thousands of aviation workers facing
furlough cliff edge in three days’ time - 18 months after
Chancellor promised sector support deal
Thousands of workers across the country are facing a cliff-edge
when furlough ends in three days’ time – despite the fact the
government promised a sector support deal more than 18 months
ago.
Large numbers of workers employed in the aviation sector have
been furloughed as the sector struggles with the impact of the
Covid-19 pandemic. Around 81,000 workers across the country face
the risk of losing their jobs after September 30.
Chancellor promised a financial support package for aviation on
March 17, 2020 – but 18 months later, it has failed to
materialise.
Crawley, the home of Gatwick airport, is already among the top 10
places with the highest share of people claiming unemployment
related benefits.
And according to Airlines UK, which represents UK registered
airlines, more than 30,000 job losses have been announced by just
their members across the UK since the start of the pandemic.
Beforehand, more than a quarter of all constituencies had more
than 1,000 people employed in aviation – the third largest
aviation network in the world.
Broader estimates by Unite the union put redundancies in the UK
aviation and aerospace sector at 61,973 up to March 2021,
excluding those formerly employed in retail at airports and
induced employment across the economy.
Pre-pandemic, in 2019, in Boris Johnson’s own constituency there
were 3,356 people working in aviation - 8.2% of all the people
employed in Uxbridge and South Ruislip. And in Transport
Secretary Grant Shapps’ constituency of Welwyn Hatfield – not in
close proximity to an airport or aerospace industry - 930 people
still relied on the sector for employment.
, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary,
said:
“It should be a source of shame for ministers that they have
allowed thousands of jobs to be lost in the aviation sector
across the country when they promised support – particularly when
so many are now staring down the barrel of Boris Johnson’s tax
hikes and cuts to Universal Credit.
“Empty words, long delays and broken promises are the default
setting for this Government – with working people paying the
price over and over again.
“Labour has consistently called for a sectoral deal that supports
the whole aviation industry including securing jobs and
protecting the supply chain, while continuing to press for higher
environmental standards.”
Ends
Notes to editors
1. On 17th March 2020, it was reported that the
Government was ‘drawing up a support package for airports and
airlines.’
Daily Mail, 17th March https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8122143/Airlines-rail-bus-firms-nationalised-amid-coronavirus.html
2. Since then Government has failed to give the aviation industry
the support it needs, leading to thousands of job losses in the
sector.
3. One of the airports worst affected was Gatwick. According to
Unite the Union, 6,000 workers based at airports, employed
directly by the airport, by airlines or in the various supply
chains have lost their jobs or at risk of redundancy since the
beginning of the pandemic. The union also estimates "redundancies
in the UK aviation and aerospace sector to 61,973, excluding
those formerly employed in retail at airports and induced
employment across the economy"
Unite the Union, https://unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2020/september/6000-job-losses-at-ghost-town-gatwick-airport-demonstrates-devastation-in-uk-aviation/
https://www.unitetheunion.org/media/3735/acuity_final3_unite_aviation_update_march_2021.pdf
(page 13)
4. Further evidence of the effect of a decline in aviation and
lack of Government support on jobs can be seen in the increase in
those claiming unemployment benefits in Crawley.
“Crawley is now among the top 10 places with the highest share of
people claiming unemployment related benefits. The home of
Gatwick airport has seen the largest increase in the claimant
count since March (+5.5. percentage points), and now has the 8th
highest claimant count rate in the country. Its youth claimant
count rate is also among the top 10 highest in the country and it
is now at 10 per cent.”
Centre for Cities, 29 January 2021, https://www.centreforcities.org/blog/a-year-of-crawley/
5. Data from Airlines UK shows that there are 3,356 people
employed by the aviation industry in Boris Johnson’s constituency
of Uxbridge and South Ruislip:
Airlines UK, https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiMGRkNDE4YTEtNmZiYy00ZWU4LWE4MTItYWY0NDJiZWFhMTUxIiwidCI6IjI1ZjE2ZDFmLTFiNGEtNDIwNC1iMjc0LTE2ZDgxNDNlYjVkNCJ9
6. Airlines UK data also shows the total number of aviation jobs
in each region, while ONS figures up to July 2021 show 51% of
passenger air transport workers are on furloughhttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-9-september-2021
