August holiday – strike at airports
Airport staff at three busy UK airports have been balloted for strike action proposed for the August bank holiday weekend.
Airport ground staff at Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester have been balloted for strike action over the August bank holiday, following discontent over Swissport’s lack of promised pay rise.
According to workers’ unions GMB and Unite, the aircraft handling company Swissport has refused to pay workers a previously-agreed pay rise.
Gary Pearce, GMB London Regional Organiser said “GMB can confirm that Swissport have refused to pay a rise of 2.75% which was the second part of a 2 year deal and which was due in April 2009. GMB have balloted our members for strike action.”
Should the strike go ahead, it will affect the busiest travel weekend of the year as baggage handlers and ground staff cease working at three of the UK’s busiest airports.
A spokesperson for Swissport has commented: “Swissport has made every effort to minimise the impact of the current market conditions on its employees. Any industrial action will jeopardise such efforts and threaten future prosperity of the company and jobs.”
The result of the ballot will be known on Friday 21 August, at around 2pm.
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Scum. Almost no-one’s getting a payrise this year. A strike designed to cause maximum misery and hurt passengers trying to get away, some of whom are taking the only holiday they can afford. Hope they all get sacked and replaced with some of the millions of unemployed.
August 19th, 2009 at 4:15 pmI consider this action very inconsiderate given the economic situation. However, I do understand their position but strike action does not resolve anything in this day and age. They must remember that they DO NOT get paid whilst on strike, so they obviously do not need the money. They have no consideration for the public going on holiday who have paid thousands of pounds and been waiting all year for a break (including myself). Their contracts of employment should have a clause stating that strike action regardless of union membership is a breach and disciplinary will follow should strike action be taken.
August 20th, 2009 at 6:57 amI think they should count themselves lucky they have a job. There are thousands of people who have been made redundant, hours have been cut or having to work 2 days a month with no pay. We are all suffering as a result of the current climate and their selfish actions are just adding to other peoples misery. Do they not realise that any strike action will result in huge losses for the airlines affected resulting in more redundancies.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:47 pmThey should be ashamed, they certainly wont be getting any sympathy from me!!