This morning, the world woke to the sad news of the collapse of tour operating company Thomas Cook after the firm failed to secure hefty funding over the weekend – despite approaching the Government for financial aid – to plug the funding gap.
Subsequently, the firm has gone into liquidation, thousands of employees have lost their jobs and remain unsure about whether they will actually receive a pay cheque this month – the Scotsman reported.
We are sorry to announce that Thomas Cook has ceased trading with immediate effect.
— Thomas Cook (@ThomasCookUK) September 23, 2019
This account will not be monitored.
Please visit https://t.co/WWiKkzLYQJ for further advice and information.#ThomasCook pic.twitter.com/Nf1X3jn97x
Union leaders have since claimed that Thomas Cook workers were “stabbed in the back” amid the firm’s collapse which cost thousands of employees their jobs.
The unions representing cabin crew, pilots and travel agency staff directed much of their criticism at the Government for not financially bailing the company out of trouble.
Brian Strutton, General Secretary of the British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa), said: "The hopes of all Thomas Cook employees that their airline could survive has been brutally quashed this morning as they wake up to find they have no job.
"While detailed plans to repatriate passengers have been carefully put together and ministers have and will continue to claim the credit for that, the staff have been stabbed in the back without a second's thought.
"Despite continuing to keep Thomas Cook going in recent weeks with dignity and integrity while their own futures were being secretly decided we don't even know if staff will get a paycheque this month. It is despicable. Thomas Cook pilots and all staff deserve better than this.
"For pilots, Balpa will be supporting our members through the legal complexities of what Thomas Cook liquidation means for them and doing everything we can to help them find alternative jobs in other airlines."
Manuel Cortes, Leader of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, said that going into administration “need not have happened”.
He added: “…the Government had been given ample opportunity to step in and help Thomas Cook but has instead chosen ideological dogma over saving thousands of jobs.
"That they would rather hang our members out to dry instead of rescuing Thomas Cook is shameful and wrong-headed.”
Many stranded holidaymakers took to Twitter to voice their gripes over cancelled flights and future holidays while others commended Thomas Cook staff for their work over the years.
...The only victims are the employees who lose their jobs. Efforts should be made to help them, not Thomas Cook, the company.
— Sam (@sjam29) September 23, 2019
As bad as I feel that my holiday may not happen. I feel for the employees at #ThomasCook ... I know people will be angry about their holiday but we will get our money back, they just lost their source of income...
— miss.bkp; (@BryKadeene) September 23, 2019
Rival airlines to pick up the pieces
To help salvage the situation and keep as many ex-Thomas Cook employees in employment as possible, Budget airline Ryanair, among others, is encouraging redundant staff to apply for positions at its company.
Head of Talent Acquisition at Ryanair took to LinkedIn and wrote: “Very sad news for Thomas Cook/Condor employees and all those connected to the company this morning, stunned that such a household name many of us have grown up with is no more...if there is any degree of comfort, it is that companies are hiring and whether you are a pilot, cabin crew, ground staff, operations etc you will not be out of work for long with many companies hiring at the moment.
“For all Thomas Cook/Condor employees, we will endeavour to fast track applications you can visit careers.ryanair.com where you will find all open positions for Ryanair, Lauda, Buzz and Malta Air. Please put Thomas Cook in the headline section of your application hashtag#thomascook hashtag#condor,” he concluded.
Image credit: Thomas Cook Group
Anna