Unite calls off airport strike
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 9:30 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
Unite has called off the threat of strikes at six of Britain's airports following negotiations between the union, BAA and mediator Acas.
The strike concerned a dispute with airports operator BAA over a one per cent pay offer, following a pay freeze implemented last year.
The deal contained a two per cent pay rise and a £500 lump sum for BAA staff, it was revealed.
"Unite came to these negotiations with a strong mandate for industrial action," said Unite's national officers, Brian Boyd and Brendan Gold.
"[Last night's]. negotiations between Unite and BAA - with the assistance of Acas - have been constructive and Unite is pleased to announce we are calling off the strike action at BAA's six airports.
"Unite's negotiating committee will recommend a much improved offer from BAA. Details of the agreement will be made public once BAA staff have been advised of the improved offer.
"We would like to particularly thank Acas for their valued assistance through these tough negotiations."
The union will now ballot its members on the details of the offer.
The strike would have thrown Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh into chaos and threatened the holidays of hundreds of thousands of travellers.
Tensions between workers and management at BAA were originally exacerbated when workers did not receive a £450 payment. BAA had made the payment conditional on the company meeting a profits target of £1.2 billion. It missed its target by three per cent.
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