Massive job losses at MyTravel

Dejected staff leaving work at MyTravel

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Staff at MyTravel have been told this afternoon, Tuesday 26 June, that the offices at Sandbrook Park are to close with the loss of a thousand jobs.

Members of staff were shouting to reporters from upstairs windows of Holiday House, the location of the MyTravel offices, "We're all going to lose our jobs", before security staff escorted all media off the forecourt.

Staff leaving the building had clearly been briefed not to make any comment to the media - every single one left the building refusing to comment despite having lost their jobs!

One member of staff, who did not want to be named, told our reporter outside the Sandbrook pub, where many members of staff went straight for a consolatory drink, "you are wasting your time, all of the staff have been told not to talk to you."

Another member of staff said: "After MyTravel merged with Thomas Cook Group, we knew that some jobs would be lost in Rochdale but we had no idea that the whole office would be closing".

Others, clearly intimidated by whatever had been said in the staff briefing, were only prepared to say the odd word to echo those sentiments:

A typical sentiment expressed was: "We hoped they might keep people on here. We were kind of expecting it but not so many people."

Another commented: "We feel like anyone who had lost their job would feel really - very disappointed."

Another, who was sat dejected in the Sandbrook Pub said: "I can't say we've not been expecting it, but to see so many go was a shock."

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has vowed to fight for those that will lose their jobs and has described the job losses as "crippling" and will be meeting union leaders and bosses at Thomas Cook, alongside Rochdale Council leaders to try to retrieve this "disastrous situation".

Mr Rowen said: "I know that hundreds of residents will be still coming to terms with this disastrous situation. It is devastating for them, for the local economy and for Rochdale.

"I am calling on the Government to do all it can to help those affected find new jobs and will be pushing them.

"I will now meet with Thomas Cook and plead with them to reconsider their decision. With the former head office of MyTravel being in Rochdale, it is estimated that close to 1000 jobs will be affected. Thomas Cook say they are launching a consulation and I will be playing a key part in that.

"At the very least I want to ensure that people affected will be relocated in the business. I will also be making sure that full support is given to those who have no alternative but to leave the company and ensure that they receive what they are entitled to. 

"I am hugely dissappointed with Thomas Cook, especially when you consider that 48% of the new company is MyTravel.

"In terms of any job losses they should be done proportionally across the new company. The cuts should be split properly across the group and not concentrated in the North and at MyTravel's head office."

Merger

The merger between Thomas Cook and MyTravel has created Europe's second-largest travel company and it holds around 35% share of the UK package holiday market.

Thomas Cook said the closures would help the newly-merged companies to cut about £95m in costs.

The newly-formed company is called Thomas Cook Group and is based in Peterborough, with a corporate headquarters in London.

It is 52%-owned by German retail chain KarstadtQuelle, which was the parent of Thomas Cook, and 48%-owned by the shareholders of MyTravel.

Its main holiday brands include Airtours, Direct Holidays, Manos, Panorama, Sunset, and Thomas Cook as well as other specialist holiday companies.

The firm's fleet of 97 aircraft will operate under the Thomas Cook brand.