Hopes fade for Stansted strike
Stansted airport
Saturday, 23, Aug 2008 12:01
A strike by security operators at Stansted airport on Monday 15th is now all but inevitable, with the GMB union telling politics.co.uk "this is going to get nasty".
The union and Gate Aviation Services have been issuing contradictory statements, with the GMB claiming management are refusing to enter into negotiations with Acas, the organisation which resolves employment disputes.
"We have been talking to Acas," a Gate Aviation Services spokesperson told politics.co.uk.
"We have been talking with them. And we have been talking with the GMB today.
"We are trying to avert the strike," the spokesperson added.
But this was flatly contradicted by a GMB spokesman.
"They did speak with Acas, but just to say they wouldn't talk to them," he told politics.co.uk.
"They said they'll talk to us after the strike when they've had time to reflect on how much money they've lost.
"They called this morning and said if we cancel the strike we'll talk to you on Wednesday. I took that to the members and their response wasn't very good, as you might imagine," he continued.
"This is going to get nasty."
The increasingly firm statements released by both sides indicate there is now little chance of the strike being called off before it hits holidaymakers on Monday 25th.
GMB is now calling industrial action "inevitable".
The dispute began when 33 GMB members who operate the security scanning equipment which checks luggage going into the hold of planes gave notice a week ago of strike action in protest at a 1.5 per cent pay offer.
Not only will travel be severely disrupted, but analysts are warning of increased security risks at the airport due to the lack of properly qualified and trained luggage scanners.
Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary, said: "It is an act of gross irresponsibility that a contractor engaged in operating an airport is refusing an offer of conciliation to resolve a long standing pay dispute.
"Airfield Services is part of the same group as Gate Gourmet which caused severe disruption at Heathrow Airport a few years ago with their macho industrial relations style."