Press Release

Gate Gourmet statement, August 13

London, August 13, 2005, 12 noon. Gate Gourmet UK confirmed that it continues on schedule to provide the basic service to enable planes to fly at London Heathrow Airport. From the moment of illegal industrial action by some of its staff the company has been able to do so.

Gate Gourmet also confirms that it is in the process of reinstating employees who were legitimately absent from work and were not taking part in the illegal strike on Wednesday.

The company also made clear every attempt was made to speak to staff absent on Wednesday to see if they were part of the illegal action. Those who could not be reached on Wednesday to verify that they were not part of the wildcat action had to be dismissed for legal reasons. All those concerned have had this fully explained in writing and those that were not engaged in the strike will be readily reinstated.

The company would like to respond to a number of incorrect statements made by the TGWU on Friday:

The company refutes totally that it dismissed staff with 3 minutes notice
Gate Gourmet management pleaded with staff over several hours to return to work
In addition, we appealed with the senior union officials to get their members to return to work.
Megaphones were used only because of the sheer number of staff and legally the company had to ensure that staff understood the situation
At no time were staff mistreated

Talks with the union through the mediation service of ACAS continue. Gate Gourmet UK has been asking their employees through the TGWU for several months to agree to reform severely outdated 1970’s working practices. This process and indeed the outcome was agreed by the TGWU. Such working practices have no standing in today’s highly competitive industry. Without this restructuring Gate Gourmet’s financial problems will continue to get worse.

Gate Gourmet UK continues to encourage the TGWU to assist it in every way to make the changes necessary in order to survive.

(Please see the news release of Aug. 10 for detailed background on the issues and the company.)

Founded in 1992, Gate Gourmet is the world's largest independent airline catering, hospitality and logistics company with dual headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and Reston, VA, USA. The company has substantially expanded its products and services recently through acquisitions and strategic investments. The portfolio now includes cabin service ware (deSter); comfort/entertainment items (Harmony); packaged food components assembled in central production units (Supplair); design and delivery of brand-linked customer environments (Performa); service staff recruitment and training and crew leasing (Elan); aviation services such as cabin cleaning, aircraft washing and deicing and passenger services (Fernley/IAS); catering security (Gate Safe); business applications (eGate Solutions); and supply chain optimization (partnership with Pourshins).