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Union to poll airport workers about strike
LONDON, Unite, the trade union, representing 6,000 workers at six British airports, said it will poll its members about a walkout over an unresolved pay dispute.
Beginning next Friday, Unite said, it will survey 6,185 employees, including security staff, engineers and firefighters if BAA fails to increase its 1.5 percent pay offer, The Guardian reported Friday.
Union officials said a possible strike, which could be called for as soon as Aug 19, likely will cause significant disruption at BAA's six airports -- Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh -- because runways and terminals are barred from operating without security and fire personnel.
Unite is embroiled in an industrial dispute with BAA's largest customer, British Airways, and could call a strike by cabin crews in September if the airline's latest offer is rejected.
Brendan Gold, Unite's national officer for aviation, said the BAA pay raise offer was unacceptable after a pay freeze in 2009.
"BAA staff have already accepted a pay freeze in 2009 to help the company but they are not prepared to accept such a paltry offer this year," he said. "We will therefore go into this ballot with strong resolve and a determination to demonstrate to BAA that its staff deserve better treatment than they are currently getting."
Gold said BAA had held back a 2009 bonus after missing earnings targets by 3 percent.
"The union understands the difficulties the airline industry is facing but BAA must realize that these airport workers are struggling to make ends meet," he said.
LONDON, Unite, the trade union, representing 6,000 workers at six British airports, said it will poll its members about a walkout over an unresolved pay dispute.
Beginning next Friday, Unite said, it will survey 6,185 employees, including security staff, engineers and firefighters if BAA fails to increase its 1.5 percent pay offer, The Guardian reported Friday.
Union officials said a possible strike, which could be called for as soon as Aug 19, likely will cause significant disruption at BAA's six airports -- Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh -- because runways and terminals are barred from operating without security and fire personnel.
Unite is embroiled in an industrial dispute with BAA's largest customer, British Airways, and could call a strike by cabin crews in September if the airline's latest offer is rejected.
Brendan Gold, Unite's national officer for aviation, said the BAA pay raise offer was unacceptable after a pay freeze in 2009.
"BAA staff have already accepted a pay freeze in 2009 to help the company but they are not prepared to accept such a paltry offer this year," he said. "We will therefore go into this ballot with strong resolve and a determination to demonstrate to BAA that its staff deserve better treatment than they are currently getting."
Gold said BAA had held back a 2009 bonus after missing earnings targets by 3 percent.
"The union understands the difficulties the airline industry is facing but BAA must realize that these airport workers are struggling to make ends meet," he said.