UK airports saved from strike action

Added 17/08/2010

Airplane taking off

Strikes at UK airports were averted yesterday after talks between BAA and Unite reached an amicable conclusion. Staff members at six UK airports were planning a strike in response to a measly pay offer. The travel industry is relieved that the strikes have been called off.

If the strikes had gone ahead, the airports would probably have been closed, causing disruption to thousands of holidaymakers embarking on their summer holidays abroad. Security staff and fire fighters were due to take part in the strikes, and without them, the airports would not have been able to run safely.

A spokesman for BAA commented on the outcome of the talks: “We are pleased that the basis of an agreement has been reached on pay, that is fair to staff but which also reflects the difficult economic climate. Our priority is to work with our people to improve the service we provide passengers and airlines, and we look forward to doing that in the busy weeks ahead.”

British travellers have already had to deal with BA strikes affecting their holidays this year, and other disruptions such as airspace closures, strike action in Europe and the collapse of Goldtrail and Sun4U have led to holiday chaos. Some Brits have already been put off travelling abroad this year, and any further disruptions would only compound the problem.

Though the strikes have been called off, workers at the six UK airports (Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen) are yet to yet to accept the pay deal. Unite said the pay offer was much improved on the last one, and the union is encouraging staff to accept it.

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