STANSTED AIRPORT: Union to vote on Christmas holiday strike

11:43am Monday 26th November 2007

A CRIPPLING union strike by 1, 000 workers at Stansted could force the airport to shut over the busy Christmas period, causing travel chaos.

A row over the future of the staff pension scheme could see union members, including airport firefighters, security, maintenance, administrative and clerical staff go on strike from December 27.

Union members will take part in a ballot on November 29 to stop the changes to the system which Unite national secretary for Civil Air Transport Brendan Gold described as "financially sound".

He said airport operator BAA's proposal to stop new employees from joining the pension scheme were viewed with suspicion by staff.

He said: "Not allowing new employees to join the company's final salary pension scheme after December 1 was viewed as being the first step in the axing of the whole scheme for everyone."

A union spokesman has confirmed that the vast majority of firefighters at BAA-owned airports are union members and if they went on strike the airport would have no choice but to close.

A BAA spokesman said the proposed strikes were "regrettable" and added the threat would not change the way the pension scheme was handled.

He said: "Using the threat of industrial action, particularly at Christmas, can only create uncertainty for our passengers and their families, and will do nothing to change the underlying reasons that have led BAA to follow the example of most other leading companies in addressing the pension problem in the way we have.

"BAA believes that now is the time to talk."

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