Heathrow Easter strike threat

Baggage handlers at Heathrow airport have been balloted over potential strike action, introducing the threat of chaos for travellers over the Easter weekend. According to The Times, the ground handling services company Aviance will today hold talks with representatives from the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU), with plans for a ballot of some 800 members tomorrow. The newspaper predicts that the vote will come out in favour of strike action. The Times reports that the dispute revolves around 70 workers who were taken on by Aviance when Swissport went bust last year; the union has reportedly claimed that their terms are not as good as other workers at Aviance. A spokesman is quoted as saying: “We have an agreement with Aviance over existing workers and that should cover these new employees.” The threatened strike could well be compounded because it coincides with planned maintenance work on Britain’s railways over the Easter break. South-east England, the West Coast and East Coast main lines are all likely to adversely affected by the work. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd