Here we go with Unite muscling in, and its BAA staff choosing to strike by a factor of 3 to 1 for strike after the rejection of the 1% pay rise offer.
Scarily, this also means that BAA will have to close on any strike days as essential staff are due to take part in the walkouts. These include fire fighters, security officers, engineers and support roles on the airport.
The hit list includes:
- Aberdeen Airport
- Edinburgh Airport
- London Heathrow Airport
- London Stansted Airport
- Glasgow Airport
- Southampton Airport
Unite say that 74.1% of the 3,054 staff who voted (and from that 50% of it’s membership) turned out to vote for the action.
BAA Quotes:
“We regret the uncertainty this vote has already caused our passengers and airline customers.
“Fewer than half of those people eligible to vote have done so and we do not believe this result provides a clear mandate for strike action.”
No dates have been given yet for the strike, however there are mumerings of various dates – the first being 23rd August, the August Bank Holiday (28th August), but Unite are denying everything until a meeting on Monday to decide a plan of action.
Unite quote:
“If strike action goes ahead, BAA faces total shutdown of six airports”
“It was not their intention to ruin people’s summer holidays.”
“The advice we would give to passengers is to put pressure on the company to come to reach a negotiated settlement
The strike is related to 1% increase, with a 0.5% extra if they agree to sick leave changes which Unite describe it as measly. They are also calling for a £450 bonus to be paid (even though the target was missed), and the summer bonus to be instated (valued at £700)
With 220 airlines using the six airports, 300,000 passengers and 2,561 flights per day, one hell of a lot is riding on this.
Myself? I’m not in a sympathy mood with the strikers. My sector is under equal attack (if not moreso), with my terms and conditions sinking like a ship.
The line from Unite stating ” It was not their intention to ruin people’s summer holidays.” is in my humble opinion
The option to strike is taken at the most advantageous moment to the striker, not the company. Thus taking it at the Bank Holiday Weekend will cause the most publicity and harm.
And some days, I swear Unite lives in the past, and forgets the current pressures of today.
More on this as and if strike action approaches.
