Firefighters go on strike at Southend Airport
GMB firefighters at Southend airport are taking part in a 14-day strike starting today (Friday) until January 6.
The GMB union said its members working for Stobart Aviation at the airport voted for industrial action in protest at being paid between £4,000 to £6,000 a year less than fire service personnel working in equivalent category airports nearby.
It also said they haven’t had an increase to their basic pay in almost four years.
A derisory offer was made by the company which was rejected by 100% of GMB members at Southend airport.
Gary Pearce, GMB regional organiser, said: "Stobart Aviation claim to not have any money and have a complete disregard for work that firefighters carry out.
"Stobart Aviation have paid £165 million on airport infrastructure but have not given a pay increase to firefighters for four years.
"CEO Glyn Jones has made it clear he would not consider paying an equivalent salary to that of equivalent airports in the South East."
London Southend Airport earlier insisted it has contingencies in place to ensure operations will continue completely uninterrupted.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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