Sunday, August 14 2005 12:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Asians, mostly Indians, were among the majority of 800 workers sacked by a catering firm at Heathrow airport, which triggered a wildcat strike by British Airways ground staff, disrupting flights and leaving thousands of people stranded.

Hundreds of ground staff walked out on Thursday (Aug 11, 2005) in support of workers fired by US company Gate Gourmet, BA's in-flight meal supplier.

Tara Shah (39) and her husband Kiran worked at the catering firm. She was one of those sacked over megaphone. Kiran was off for the day so he was sacked through a letter.

"Many couples have been sacked," she told reporters. "We don't know what we are going to do. We have four children and a mortgage to pay. The way we have been treated is shocking."

Tara Shah said the company appeared to have miscalculated the scale of the Opposition. "We are very strong and we are angry. This gives me hope."

Another sacked employee Sabajit Sidhu, a mother of two from Slough, said managers underestimated the resilience of their workers and the ties that unite airport workers of all races, ages, religions and both sexes.

"I work for Gate Gourmet but some of my relatives are baggage handlers," she said. "I am very proud of the fight we are showing. They treated us terribly.

"We were held in the canteen for hours and then they just pushed us out of the building. I worked there for six years. I think they have made a big mistake," said Sidhu.

Harinder Atwal (45) joined the company a decade ago. The mother of three was a senior shop steward and said relations between staff and senior managers seemed to deteriorate 18 months ago.