TO THE RESCUE
Axed Thomas Cook staff have been offered new jobs at BA, easyJet, Flybe, Tui and Virgin
JOBLESS Thomas Cook staff are being offered new roles at rival airlines after the collapse of the travel company.
Some 21,000 jobs worldwide were left at risk, including 9,000 in the UK, when Thomas Cook ceased trading yesterday.
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The news devastated staff, who were seen leaving the company's HQ in Peterborough in floods of tears when the fate of the travel firm was revealed.
Employees also tweeted their grief throughout the day as they mourned the loss of their jobs.
But axed staff are now being offered a lifeline with British Airways, easyJet, Flybe, Tui and Virgin reaching out with potential job opportunities.
Virgin has seven job advertisements especially for Thomas Cook staff, ranging from cabin crew to sales advisers.
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While easyJet is recruiting for cabin crew at its Bristol, Glasgow, Luton, Southend and Stansted bases, according to a tweet from an easyJet employee.
The airline also said it's hiring in Tegel and Schonefeld airports in Berlin.
The tweet goes on to say the airline will host drop in sessions for Thomas Cook employees but said it doesn't have any jobs going for captains.
It does, however, have roles for co-pilots.
easyJet is advising ex-Thomas Cook staff to keep an eye on .
Tui confirmed it’ll be holding a jobs fair at its Luton office, promising more details at .
Meanwhile, Flybe said it will host a recruitment day specifically for Thomas Cook engineering staff at the Clayton Hotel in Manchester from 10am – 4pm on September 25.
BA has posted on LinkedIn offering support to axed staff and directed them to their .
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A number of Thomas Cook employees were made redundant soon after the firm closed yesterday.
But a handful are being kept on for now to assist the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in getting Thomas Cook holidaymakers home, as well as shutting up travel shops.
Staff who have already been made redundant will not be paid their September paycheck because the company is in liquidation.
To get any money, they'll need to apply for their wages owed from the Redundancy Payment Service (RPS).
As well as unpaid wages, they can also apply for accrued holiday pay, redundancy payouts, and compensation for not being able to work their notice period, called statutory notice pay.
Each application is treated separately and wage applications and redundancy applications are each capped at £525 a week.
Thomas Cook employee rights
SOME Thomas Cook employees have already been told that they are being made redundant, although that number is expected to increase.
A handful of staff are being kept on to assist the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in getting Thomas Cook holidaymakers home and to help wind up the shops’ operations.
Employees who have been made redundant will not be paid their September paycheck because the company is in liquidation.
Former staff will have to apply for their wages owed from the Redundancy Payment Service (RPS).
This is a scheme run by the Insolvency Service, an agency of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, that deals with companies that stop trading due to financial difficulties.
You can apply as long as you were working for the company with an employment contract and you live in England, Scotland and Wales.
But the amount you may receive is capped at £525 a week, meaning that you won’t be paid all of what you’re owed if your salary is more.
As well as unpaid wages, you can also apply for accrued holiday pay, redundancy payouts, and compensation for not being able to work your notice period, called statutory notice pay.
Each application is treated separately and also capped at £525 a week.
The agency aims to pay you your wages within 14 days of receiving your application, or sooner if possible.
Staff based in Northern Ireland can find out more about their rights .
Employees of Thomas Cook's airlines and tour operator companies are encouraged to speak to administrators , while retail and aircraft maintenance staff should speak to KPMG to make a claim via its or email [email protected].
The government has a for more information for Thomas Cook passengers and staff.
Tui and easyJet told The Sun more details about how many jobs are available will be announced in the coming days.
A spokesperson for Tui said: "We would like to express our sadness to all those affected by the Thomas Cook collapse and welcome applications for any of our available jobs."
An easyJet spokesperson added: "Everyone at easyJet is saddened by the news about Thomas Cook and appreciates the anxiety that those working for it will be facing."
The Sun is awaiting a response from Virgin.
We've also asked British Airways, Ryanair, Jet2 and Flybe if they are offering any jobs for Thomas Cook staff.
The demise of Thomas Cook, which had been trading for 178 years, sparked the biggest repatriation since World War Two with 150,000 customers needing an alternative way home.
Emotional passengers on the final Thomas Cook flight even held a whip-round for stricken staff.
MORE ON THOMAS COOK
Yesterday, greedy airlines were accused of cashing in on the Thomas Cook collapse after hiking fares by up to 400 per cent.
While a devastated groom - who happens to be called Thomas Cook - had his dream wedding in Greece scuppered.
We also shared your rights for cancelled holidays and how to get a refund if you're impacted by the Thomas Cook news.
Thomas Cook collapse - what you need to know if you're booked for a future holiday or stuck overseas
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