Stansted workers to strike over Bank Holiday

Wednesday, 21 Aug, 2006 0

Passengers are facing further misery at Stansted Airport after baggage handlers and check-in staff voted to strike over the Bank Holiday.

Over the past week, travellers have had to contend with severe delays and hundreds of flight cancellations at the airport, following the security alert after the government uncovered a plot by terrorists to bomb transatlantic flights.

Now they will have to put up with further disruptions caused by two 15-hour strikes, which will take place on August 26 and 28.

The dispute among airline staff is over pay and around 500 union members voted three to one in favour of strike action to secure an improved offer from employers Swissport.

A spokesman for the GMB union said it submitted a claim for a substantial pay review in April, along with a call for a higher rate for Sunday working. He said Swissport had not met the claim for Sunday premiums and the pay offer contained unacceptable conditions.

Charter airlines, Ryanair and easyJet will be affected by the strikes.

Meanwhile, Ryanair has threatened to take legal action for compensation against the government if it does not return airport security measures to normal within seven days.

Launching a campaign to ‘keep Britain flying’, chief executive Michael O’Leary said the only way to avoid handing extremists a PR victory would be to allow a lager cabin baggage allowance and have fewer body searches.

A spokesman for the government said it did not believe it was liable to pay compensation and would not compromise safety.

Ryanair has also been critical of airports authority BAA, claiming it has not had enough staff manning security points during busy periods.

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Jeremy Skidmore

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