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| Airport workers vote for strikes | Airport workers vote for strikes |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Some of Britain's busiest airports are set to be disrupted after union members at BAA voted for strike action over plans to change pension rights. | Some of Britain's busiest airports are set to be disrupted after union members at BAA voted for strike action over plans to change pension rights. |
| The Unite union has called 24-hour strikes starting at 0600GMT on 7 and 14 January, followed by a 48-hour strike starting at 0600GMT on 17 January. | The Unite union has called 24-hour strikes starting at 0600GMT on 7 and 14 January, followed by a 48-hour strike starting at 0600GMT on 17 January. |
| BAA said it would continue discussions and asked for customers' understanding. | BAA said it would continue discussions and asked for customers' understanding. |
| The strikes will take place at all of BAA's seven UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh. | The strikes will take place at all of BAA's seven UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh. |
| The company also operates Stansted, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports. | The company also operates Stansted, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports. |
| "We continue to believe that industrial action is unnecessary, as none of our existing employees will be affected by the changes to our pension arrangements," a BAA spokesman said. | "We continue to believe that industrial action is unnecessary, as none of our existing employees will be affected by the changes to our pension arrangements," a BAA spokesman said. |
| "However, we do recognise that there are important concerns and these will continue to be addressed through discussions with the unions and staff." | "However, we do recognise that there are important concerns and these will continue to be addressed through discussions with the unions and staff." |
| Spanish owner | Spanish owner |
| Unite represents 5,000 airport workers employed by BAA, including firefighters and security staff, without whom the airports cannot operate. | Unite represents 5,000 airport workers employed by BAA, including firefighters and security staff, without whom the airports cannot operate. |
| It is not a UK management decision but a decision taken in Spain that I do not believe has the backing of the UK management team Brendan Gold, Unite class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3967&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| The union said 1,946 members had voted to strike, with 1,108 voting against direct action. | The union said 1,946 members had voted to strike, with 1,108 voting against direct action. |
| The workers are protesting against the company's plans to close the final salary pension scheme to new employees. | The workers are protesting against the company's plans to close the final salary pension scheme to new employees. |
| Unite's national aviation officer Brendan Gold blamed BAA's Spanish owner Ferrovial for the decision. | Unite's national aviation officer Brendan Gold blamed BAA's Spanish owner Ferrovial for the decision. |
| "It is not a UK management decision but a decision taken in Spain that I do not believe has the backing of the UK management team," he said. | "It is not a UK management decision but a decision taken in Spain that I do not believe has the backing of the UK management team," he said. |
| The date of the first strike, 7 January, is the day when rules on the amount of permitted carry-on baggage are due to change, which was already expected to cause some confusion in airports. | The date of the first strike, 7 January, is the day when rules on the amount of permitted carry-on baggage are due to change, which was already expected to cause some confusion in airports. |
| Passengers will be allowed two items of carry-on baggage, but only if they are at an airport that has bought a new type of 3D scanner. | Passengers will be allowed two items of carry-on baggage, but only if they are at an airport that has bought a new type of 3D scanner. |
| On Thursday, cabin crew at Virgin Atlantic announced they would be calling two 48-hour strikes in January in a dispute over pay. | On Thursday, cabin crew at Virgin Atlantic announced they would be calling two 48-hour strikes in January in a dispute over pay. |