UNION DRIVER SACKED: Gatwick Airport taxi protest grinds morning traffic to a halt

Gatwick airport ground to a halt this morning as taxi drivers employed by Airport Cars continued their protests over an attack on their Unite Union rep.

According to the Union, the worker has been sacked for undertaking his duties as a Unite union workplace representative.

The protests took place this morning between 7am and 10am, and there are planned protests on Saturday between 12pm and 3pm, with more scheduled next week if the dispute is not resolved.

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite will not tolerate attacks on our reps. The full force of the union will be directed into making Airport Cars right this wrong and cease its hostile treatment of union members.

"Attacks on members of our union will not go unchallenged, and our members at Airport Cars have Unite's full support.”

Last week, Airport Cars notified the worker by email that he can no longer work for the company because he represented a colleague during a workplace dispute. Unite represents nearly 300 Airport Cars taxi drivers, who are currently part of an employment tribunal case that will determine their employment status.

Unite Regional coordinating Officer, Jamie Major, said: “Airport Cars are deliberately targeting union members. They will soon find out that their attempts to union-bust will backfire. Our members and the entire union are very clear that an attack on one is an attack on all.”