This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7580437.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Strike by airport baggage staff Strike 'did not hit passengers'
(about 10 hours later)
Security workers who scan luggage at Stansted Airport have begun a one-day strike in a dispute over pay. Managers have said a strike by staff who scan luggage for explosives and illegal substances at Stansted Airport in Essex failed to disrupt passengers.
The 33 members of the GMB Union are seeking a pay rise of about 5%, while their employer, Airfield Services, has offered 1.5%. The 33 members of the GMB Union want a pay rise of about 5% while employer Airfield Services has offered 1.5%.
The company said it was "disappointed" the action was taking place while pay negotiations continued but said it did not expect passengers to suffer. Managers were brought in to scan luggage during the one-day dispute but the union claimed they were catering staff breaching safety rules.
The union accused bosses of refusing to attend arbitration talks. The company said it was "disappointed" over the action.
GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said it was "grossly irresponsible" of the company not to use the conciliation service Acas to host talks. Union representatives said they would complain to airport owner BAA and to the transport minister about the use of catering staff to replace strikers.
He claimed it would cost £300 per week for Airfield Services to meet staff demands and added: "The company's claim that they cannot afford to settle the dispute is not credible since they are owned by 40 major financial institution worth billions of pounds." Second strike plan
A spokesperson for Gate Aviation Services, which owns Airfield, said there were "full contingency arrangements in place to ensure that the usual high standard of security is maintained with minimal disruption for passengers". The GMB union insisted some passengers would be affected arriving at their destination to find luggage never made it on to the plane.
Bar staff working at the Leeds and Reading music festivals will donate money to the strikers. The union said it would hold a second 24-hour stoppage this Thursday unless there were further negotiations.
"The company has brought in catering workers to operate security scanners, which is a clear breach of security standards laid down for this airport," said GMB general secretary Paul Kenny.
"We will be raising the issue with the Transport Secretary and BAA to ask when this company was given the right to lower security standards because of a trade dispute."
The GMB said strikers had mounted a picket line on a day when about 40,000 passengers were flying out of Stansted, which is near Chelmsford, Essex.