News
January chaos looms at airports
24 December 2007
Strike action by BAA staff could paralyse Britain's busiest airports next month - affecting more than 1.3 million passengers.
A wave of strikes organised by the Unite union will see 5,800 staff walk out on January 7th, 14th, 17th and 18th unless a deal with BAA can be reached.
Most of these staff at Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle airports are security workers and firefighters who cannot be easily replaced at short notice.
Due to this, Brendan Gold, Unite's national aviation secretary, said: "Without doubt, in my view, it will result in the closure of those seven airports during that timeframe [and cause] a huge amount of disruption."
BAA asked for more talks to work towards a solution to the row which flared up over the decision to close a final salary pension scheme to new employees.
Urging customers to have faith that that the situation can either be resolved or managed, British Airways advised people not cancel their bookings just yet.
"We are speaking to BAA to understand its operational contingency plans if industrial action goes ahead," a spokesperson said.
"We have not cancelled any flights at this stage, and therefore we aim to operate as normal."
Opodo cheap flights and hotels - let the journey begin!
© Adfero Ltd
A wave of strikes organised by the Unite union will see 5,800 staff walk out on January 7th, 14th, 17th and 18th unless a deal with BAA can be reached.
Most of these staff at Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle airports are security workers and firefighters who cannot be easily replaced at short notice.
Due to this, Brendan Gold, Unite's national aviation secretary, said: "Without doubt, in my view, it will result in the closure of those seven airports during that timeframe [and cause] a huge amount of disruption."
BAA asked for more talks to work towards a solution to the row which flared up over the decision to close a final salary pension scheme to new employees.
Urging customers to have faith that that the situation can either be resolved or managed, British Airways advised people not cancel their bookings just yet.
"We are speaking to BAA to understand its operational contingency plans if industrial action goes ahead," a spokesperson said.
"We have not cancelled any flights at this stage, and therefore we aim to operate as normal."
Opodo cheap flights and hotels - let the journey begin!
© Adfero Ltd
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