BAA's Airports could be hit by strike action over pensions
17.10.07
Staff at BAA's airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport - have warned travellers that strike action could disrupt flights over the festive season. Fire crews and maintenance workers could take industrial action in a dispute with airports owner BAA over pensions. This could see the airports shut on safety grounds, leaving passengers stranded.
BAA triggered outrage last month by announcing its final salary pensions scheme would be closed to new recruits from December 1. Union leaders have threatened action if BAA refuse to abandon the plans.
The Glasgow Evening Times quotes 'a source' saying: 'There is every likelihood of strikes which would involve groups of workers such as fire crews and maintenance staff. If the airport's firefighters are on strike then flights will be grounded and planes will not be allowed to land. Airports would in effect be closed for safety reasons. Arrangements for a strike ballot will be acted on if management refuses to budge. We're talking about strikes before Christmas.'
Three trade unions - Unite, PCS and Prospect - have condemned the decision to close the pension scheme as a 'cost-cutting' move, even though most other leading UK companies, including the likes of British Airways and the Bank of Scotland, have taken similar action.
Brendan Gold, of Unite, said: 'Unions will mount a vigorous campaign industrially, politically and publicly to ensure this decision is reversed.' A BAA spokesman said: 'We are happy to engage with the unions on this matter and have invited them to further talks.'
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