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Airport strike talks set to begin | Airport strike talks set to begin |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Talks aimed at averting strike action that would disrupt Britain's busiest airports will begin this afternoon. | Talks aimed at averting strike action that would disrupt Britain's busiest airports will begin this afternoon. |
The Unite union has called 24-hour strikes starting at 0600 GMT on 7 and 14 January, and a 48-hour strike starting at 0600 GMT on 17 January. | The Unite union has called 24-hour strikes starting at 0600 GMT on 7 and 14 January, and a 48-hour strike starting at 0600 GMT on 17 January. |
Workers voted to strike after the Spanish owners of airport operator BAA closed its final salary pension scheme to new entrants. | |
Strikes would affect seven UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick. | Strikes would affect seven UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick. |
BAA, which also operates Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, said 1.3 million passengers would be affected if the strikes went ahead. | BAA, which also operates Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, said 1.3 million passengers would be affected if the strikes went ahead. |
A spokesman for Unite said that the talks would last a couple of hours, adding that it was not certain that they would resolve the problems. | A spokesman for Unite said that the talks would last a couple of hours, adding that it was not certain that they would resolve the problems. |
However, he said that it was always useful for the two sides to keep talking. | However, he said that it was always useful for the two sides to keep talking. |
'Unnecessary' | 'Unnecessary' |
The union has said the pension decision must be reversed and blamed the Spanish owners for the problems. | The union has said the pension decision must be reversed and blamed the Spanish owners for the problems. |
Previously, Unite's national aviation officer Brendan Gold 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." | Previously, Unite's national aviation officer Brendan Gold 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." |
BAA has said existing employees would not be affected and described strike action as unnecessary. | BAA has said existing employees would not be affected and described strike action as unnecessary. |
Unite represents about 6,000 airport workers employed by BAA, including firefighters and security staff, without whom the airports cannot operate. | Unite represents about 6,000 airport workers employed by BAA, including firefighters and security staff, without whom the airports cannot operate. |
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. |
Cabin crew at Virgin Atlantic recently announced they would be calling two 48-hour strikes in January in a dispute over pay. | Cabin crew at Virgin Atlantic recently announced they would be calling two 48-hour strikes in January in a dispute over pay. |
Many travellers have already experienced significant problems at the UK's airports, with long delays over the summer. | Many travellers have already experienced significant problems at the UK's airports, with long delays over the summer. |