Manchester Airport strike ballot suspended
12.03.09
Unite has suspended plans to ballot ground handlers at Manchester Airport on strike action after progress in talks with their employers Swissport. The union was due to ask more than 100 of its members whether they wanted to take industrial action in a ballot on Friday, with the threat of a strike over the busy Easter period.
The firm, which manages passengers luggage for airlines including as Virgin, Emirates and Monarch, made 35 of its Manchester staff redundant in January in a restructuring plan. The union says that it also has resulted in pay cuts and the introduction of an unpopular shift pattern, and was enforced on its members without proper consultation.
Lawrence Chapple-Gill, Unite's regional officer, said: ‘There was a meeting this morning between union representatives and Swissport to talk about the roster and restructuring. It was decided there is enough to work with without the need for industrial action, so the ballot has been suspended. Swissport is prepared to listen and talks are ongoing.’
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