Could Heathrow airport be the new Wapping?
19.09.05
An article in 'The Business' newspaper yesterday claims that Heathrow airport is set to be 'the new Wapping'. The newspaper says that labour relations experts are predicting that Heathrow could turn into the new Wapping, the east London printing plant which became a battleground between newspaper owners and unions for the control of the industry.
Heathrow airport has been the scene of three bitter strikes in as many years. While each dispute has happened for a different reason, 'militant elements' amongst the airports workforce have been singled out as the architects of each.
The most recent turmoil for the airline and Heathrow came last month. Some 670 workers at Gate Gourmet (GG), British Airways main catering supplier at the airport, were sacked for taking part in an unofficial strike. The sackings inflamed an already bitter dispute over pay and conditions and ended up grounding many flights at British Airways when some of BA's workers walked out in sympathy. It was the third year in a row that BA workers had downed tools at the height of the holiday season.
The dispute at the caterer has dragged on, with GG refusing to reinstate around 200 militant workers within the 667 the sacked workers. Talks between unions and caterer will continue this week.
British Airways, grounded by industrial action 3 years in a row, has pledged to stamp out the troublemakers too. Senior management have said that BA's will use its move to Terminal Five in just over 2 years as an opportunity to bring in new working practices.
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