News

TRAVEL agent bosses are being urged to sign up to a ground-breaking agreement to introduce minimum employment standards across the industry. 

Travel trade union Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association aims to dramatically reduce the trade’s high staff turnover with the launch of its Travel Trade Charter.

The charter includes minimum standards for training and development, career structures, staff consultation and improved job security through consultation.

It also includes transparent pay structures, equal opportunities, union recognition as well as family-friendly and flexible working practices.

Secretary of state for culture, media and sport Tessa Jowell and Trade Union Congress general-secretary Brendan Barber have thrown their weight behind the plan.

The TSSA is also approaching industry-leading organisations including ABTA, Tourism Alliance and Tourism Concern for their support.

New TSSA general-secretary Gerry Doherty said minimum employment standards are drastically needed to reduce the trade’s high staff turnover - estimated at 30% every year.

“There needs to be recognition that the high staff turnover in the industry is the cause of instability,” he said. “There are no proper training standards and there is job insecurity. The majority of staff earn around £10,000 a year and there is a great deal of overtime worked - most of it unpaid.

“There needs to be standards for training, wages and terms and conditions that reflect the industry’s needs,” he added.

However, the charter has received a mixed response from the trade with ABTA welcoming the move while TUI UK questioned the need for more regulation.

ABTA chief executive Ian Reynolds said: “It is fundamental all staff have access to good training, fair pay and family-friendly policies.”

Midconsort chief executive Charles Eftichiou backed the charter but warned the TSSA against using it as a vehicle to drive up wages.

“In principle it’s a good idea,” he said. “Staff are on lower-than-average wages compared to similar industries. But this is a delicate time to increase costs.”

Suffolk-based Johnson Stevens Travel general manager Peter Cansick said: “Career structures are needed as there are still issues about staff not feeling valued.

An agent shouldn’t come into an office and still be flogging holidays five years later,” he said.

However, TUI UK retail sales director Miles Morgan questioned its value.

“There is legislation surrounding all of the issues. Do we need standards on top of the legislation?”

It’s likely the charter will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Belfast next month.