New strike threat at UK airports
Workers at six UK airports are being balloted for strike action by the Unite union.
Unite is to ballot more than 6,000 members based at BAA airports, including Heathrow, in a dispute over pay.
It has accused BAA of offering a “paltry” pay offer for 2010 after a pay freeze in 2009.
BAA issued a statement today saying: “We are disappointed that Unite is to ballot members across its UK airports for strike action.
“During recent discussions with Unite, we proposed a conditional 1.5% pay increase.
“We believe this to be a reasonable offer at a time when BAA and its airline customers are seeing a decline in passengers due to the impacts of recession and volcanic ash.
“We regret Unite’s decision, which will cause unnecessary concern for millions of our passengers and damage Britain’s reputation around the world.â€
By Bev Fearis
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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