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Emergency food vouchers offered to ex-Thomas Cook staff

Former Thomas Cook workers are being sent emergency food vouchers as the Abta LifeLine charity steps in to offer support.

The Tesco vouchers are being made available to help ex-Thomas Cook staff buy essentials to get through the next few weeks.

A Just Giving page has also been set up to enable people to donate to help the 9,000 staff who lost their jobs with the collapse of the company.

The jobs crisis has prompted Abta LifeLine to provide redundancy support alongside re-training for workers via a hotline on 0202 3693 0171 or by emailing thomascookhelp@abtalifeline.org.uk 

Donations can be made here


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A spokesperson said: “We are very sorry to hear about the news in relation to the Thomas Cook Group.

“Abta LifeLine is your charity and we want to support you to the best of our ability through this trying time.

“If you know of anyone that may fall on financial difficulty as a result of this situation, please bring Abta LifeLine to their attention and the potential help we could provide.

“If you could pass this on to all employees it would be greatly appreciated. It is our goal to make sure we reach all those that need a lifeline during the challenging times in their lives.

Abta LifeLine also highlighted Travel Weekly’s growing list of employers with vacancies for Thomas Cook workers who lost their jobs due to the collapse.

The Thomas Cook collapse came just days after more than £8,000 was raised at an Abta LifeLine dinner in London where Der Touristik UK chief executive Derek Jones auctioned off prizes.

The Abta charitable initiative came alongside a cross-government taskforce being set up to support ex-Thomas Cook employees.

Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association general secretary Manuel Cortes welcomed the government taskforce but described the timing as “like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted”.

Cortes was speaking after a round table meeting hosted by business secretary Andrew Leadsomlooking at support ministers are planning to offer Thomas Cook staff and local communities.

Cortes said: “Our union of course welcomes a taskforce to deal with the collapse of Thomas Cook and how best to now find work for the Thomas Cook employees.

“We pressed very hard that any money owed to our members should be paid as soon as possible. I am pleased the Government understands that this matter needs to be dealt with urgently and we await positive developments on this front.

“However, this is like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. We still think more effort should have been put into trying to rescue the company.”

He added: “Our union is also stepping up efforts to try to find our members new jobs. I have written to all the companies with whom we have a relationship and have asked them to please let us know of any vacancies which might be suitable for our Thomas Cook members.

“If there are any employers out there looking for staff with customer service experience then please get in touch with us.”

Ex-Thomas Cook staff are due to meet at Manchester airport today amid concerns  over their wages.

 

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