Airport Strike Threatens Bank Holiday TravelStrike could cripple Gatwick over bank holiday weekend By TravelMole on 21 August 2008 in News |
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Bank holiday airports strike threat Strike action by baggage handlers is threatening to cripple Gatwick and other airports over the bank holiday weekend. Handlers and check-in staff employed by Swissport at Gatwick have voted to take action in a dispute over pay. The dispute is likely to spread to other UK airports in the coming days and weeks, the Unite union warned. Two 24-hour strikes have been scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday August 25 and 29. It will halt all baggage handling and check-in at airlines including Virgin Atlantic, Monarch, Thomson Fly, First Choice, North West, Air Malta, Air Transat, Oman Air, as well as some smaller airlines. Swissport has offered a 3% increase backdated to July rather than the anniversary date of April 1 and in a two-year offer, RPI capped at 4% in year two, according to the union. The company offer also removes sick pay for the first three days of any absence due to illness, including industrial injury. The union is calling for an increase in excess of 5% in a one-year deal without concessions. A ballot result for Swissport workers at Stansted is to be followed by Manchester's result today. Unite members at Swissport will also be balloted at Birmingham and Newcastle airports which could see an escalation of industrial action across the UK airports. Unite national officer Steve Turner said: "Our members are already struggling to keep up with rising food and energy costs. This pay offer is an insult to professional, hard working men and women who have to operate in extremely difficult conditions. "This result is just the first to be declared with positive ballot results expected over the next few days at Stansted and Manchester airports. "Swissport workers will also shortly be balloted at Birmingham and Newcastle airports which could see an escalation of industrial action across the UK's airports. "Our members have had enough. The liberalisation of ground handling services across UK airports has resulted in a 'race to the bottom' which must and will stop. "We are demanding a national solution to this dispute which addresses the real cost increases our members face. "Unite has requested a national level meeting with the company to resolve this dispute but the clock is ticking and if this does not deliver, our members will strike." CommentsBe the first to leave a comment Add Your CommentPlease note: all comments will be manually verified by our staff before appearing on the site. Please do not try and spam and do not use offending language. If you want to be notified when your post has been published, add your email address below. Related ItemsRyanair cleans up website following OFT investigationHolographic announcers at Luton Airport Royal Wedding boosts flight searches to London London gets a new attraction: cable car across the Thames BA may buy BMI Heathrow slots Heathrow voted worst airport BA offers refunds for volcanic ash cancellations The Landmark Hotel, London The Kingdom of Ife in London's British Museum A taste of Wimbledon at Heathrow BA uses black cab for airport transfers Three arrested on Dubai-bound airline First ever direct flight from UK to Vietnam Super-lounge with spa at Gatwick Silverjet Reviewed News Archives |
