Industrial disruption loomed on three fronts today as striking airline catering staff were fired and Royal Mail and Argos workers said they were seeking urgent talks with management.

Thousands of British Airways passengers took off with no meals on board their flights today, including long-haul services, after 800 staff at the airline's Heathrow caterer were sacked.

The airline later suspended all flights out from Heathrow as its own ground staff walked out in sympathy with the food workers.

Gate Gourmet said it dismissed the workers after an unofficial strike over the troubled company's restructuring plans. Other staff then walked out in sympathy.

The Transport and General Workers' Union claimed the firm, Gate Gourmet, planned the sackings but had refused to negotiate.

Its striking staff had objected to the company bringing in seasonal workers while permanent staff jobs were under threat. Gate Gourmet said it always brought in seasonal staff for the summer holiday rush.

Tony Woodley, the TGWU’s general secretary, had called on BA to put pressure on the American-owned company to come to the negotiating table. He said Gate Gourmet had unilaterally decided to reduce the pay and conditions of its staff. He warned that the dispute could escalate. Gate Gourmet also serves Gatwick, Glasgow, Bristol and Newcastle airports.

Gate Gourmet said it was trying to improve productivity in the light of huge losses.

The airline soldiered on for much of the day, offering food parcels and vouchers to its customers but some of its own staff later walked out in sympathy with 800 sacked workers from Gate GourmeThe airline soldiered on for much of the day, offering food parcels and vouchers to its customers but some of its own staff later walked out in sympathy with 800 sacked workers from Gate Gourme

BA had soldiered on for much of the day, handing out food bags or vouchers to passengers at the airport until its own staff closed the check-in desks in support of the sacked Gate Gourmet staff.

BA's share price dipped 1.4 per cent to 292p as surging oil prices also weighed on airline stocks.

Royal Mail

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