Talks will begin today (Thursday, December 27) to try to head off the strikes that could happen at major UK airports in early January.
Employees of airport operator BAA, including fire crews and security staff, have voted to strike in protest at the closure of a final salary-linked pension scheme to new employees.
The industrial action will affect Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, and is set for January 7 and January 14 (24-hour strikes), as well as January 17 (a 48-hour strike).
The Unite workers union wants the pension decision reversed, with aviation secretary Brendan Gold saying: “It is clear that our members’ pension scheme is financially sound, and should be left alone.”
However, BAA has said that strike action is unnecessary.
Separately, Virgin Atlantic cabin crew members have voted to strike on January 11 and January 18, in a dispute over pay. This is the first time in the airline’s history that employees have voted for industrial action.
