Pilots won’t take part in ID trial
05.05.09
The leader of the airline pilots' union Balpa will tell transport secretary Geoff Hoon today that the union will mount a legal challenge to government plans to make them and other airport workers take part in trials of identity cards. Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan will speak to Mr Hoon and aviation minister Jim Fitzpatrick about the scheme at a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons.
According to press reports Mr McAuslan will tell the ministers, along with opposition MPs and airline bosses, that Balpa, which represents 80% of UK pilots, will launch the challenge on the basis that identity cards will not help security and will not be voluntary, as the government claims.
The Home Office wants to have trials of the cards at London City and Manchester Airport this autumn, and is waiving a £30 fee to encourage airport workers to sign up. But Balpa said the scheme cannot be voluntary because pilots and other workers are being told that if they do not sign up they will not qualify for a pass to allow them to go ‘airside’ at the airports.
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