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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| No agreement over airport dispute | No agreement over airport dispute |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Talks between unions and airport operator BAA aimed at avoiding industrial action in the New Year have ended without agreement. | Talks between unions and airport operator BAA aimed at avoiding industrial action in the New Year have ended without agreement. |
| The Unite union has called 24-hour strikes on 7 and 14 January, and a 48-hour strike starting on 17 January. | The Unite union has called 24-hour strikes on 7 and 14 January, and a 48-hour strike starting on 17 January. |
| If they go ahead, thousands of people using UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, could be affected. | If they go ahead, thousands of people using UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, could be affected. |
| The strike vote came after BAA's Spanish owners closed its final salary pension scheme to new entrants. | The strike vote came after BAA's Spanish owners closed its final salary pension scheme to new entrants. |
| So far, no dates have been set for further negotiations. However, union officials said there was still time to reach an agreement. | So far, no dates have been set for further negotiations. However, union officials said there was still time to reach an agreement. |
| 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. |
| Leaders of Unite and BAA tried unsuccessfully to resolve the dispute on Thursday during talks lasting several hours. | Leaders of Unite and BAA tried unsuccessfully to resolve the dispute on Thursday during talks lasting several hours. |
| Afterwards, a union spokesman said: "As things stand, the industrial action set to begin on 7 January will go ahead." | Afterwards, a union spokesman said: "As things stand, the industrial action set to begin on 7 January will go ahead." |
| A spokesman for BAA said he was disappointed there had not been a resolution and repeated that the changes to the pension scheme would not affect existing staff. | |
| "We will continue to do all we can to resolve this dispute since we believe that a strike would not be in the interests of our passengers or our staff," he said. | |
| The strikes would hit Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, as well as Gatwick and Heathrow, and BAA say 1.3 million passengers would be affected. | The strikes would hit Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, as well as Gatwick and Heathrow, and BAA say 1.3 million passengers would be affected. |
| 'Unnecessary' | 'Unnecessary' |
| Previously, Unite 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 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." |
| 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. |
| Further delays | Further delays |
| Many travellers have already experienced significant problems at the UK's airports over the summer. | Many travellers have already experienced significant problems at the UK's airports over the summer. |
| Heathrow was one of the worst hit airports, with thousands of travellers queuing for hours following the introduction of tougher security measures. | Heathrow was one of the worst hit airports, with thousands of travellers queuing for hours following the introduction of tougher security measures. |
| Should BAA's airports be hit by strike action next month, then it would come at a time when many observers have already voiced concerns about plans to ease the restrictions on the amount of passenger hand luggage. | Should BAA's airports be hit by strike action next month, then it would come at a time when many observers have already voiced concerns about plans to ease the restrictions on the amount of passenger hand luggage. |
| They have warned that the changes, due to come into force on 7 January, would lead to further delays and confusion for passengers. | They have warned that the changes, due to come into force on 7 January, would lead to further delays and confusion for passengers. |