News: Strike threatened at BAA airports next month

Flights > News > # 1627 (21/12/2007)

Some of Britain's busiest airports are set to be disrupted after BAA union members voted to strike over plans to change pension rights.
The Unite union has called 24-hour strikes starting at 6am on January 7 and 14, followed by a 48-hour strike starting at 6am on January 17.
The strikes will take place at all of BAA's seven UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Glasgow. The company also operates Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton airports.
A BAA spokesman said: "We believe that industrial action is unnecessary, as none of our existing employees will be affected by the changes to our pension arrangements.
"However, we do recognise that there are important concerns and these will continue to be addressed through discussions with the unions and staff."
Unite represents 5,000 airport workers employed by BAA, including firefighters and security staff, without whom the airports cannot operate.
The union said 1,946 members had voted to strike, with 1,108 voting against direct action. The workers are protesting against the company's plans to close the final salary pension scheme to new employees.
Unite's national aviation officer Brendan Gold blamed BAA's Spanish owner Ferrovial for the decision.
"It is not a UK management decision but a decision taken in Spain that I do not believe has the backing of the UK management team," he said.
The date of the first strike, January 7, is the day when rules on the amount of permitted carry-on baggage are due to change, which was already expected to cause some confusion in airports. Passengers will be allowed two items of carry-on baggage, but only if they are at an airport that has bought a new type of 3D scanner.