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London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
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Strike threat to Christmas flights could lead to holiday airport chaos
Last updated at 15:52pm on 29.11.07Strike ballot papers were being issued today to 5,000 airport workers in a dispute which threatens to cancel hundreds of flights over Christmas and the New Year holidays.
Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted face shutdown on strike days.
Unite, Britain's largest union, expects "overwhelming support" for the action over pensions.
The result will be declared on Thursday, 20 December. The union must then give seven days' notice of any walkout meaning the first could take place from Thursday 27 December.
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Busy: Queue chaos at Heathrow last Christmas
Airport firefighters, security, maintenance and clerical staff are taking part in the ballot over plans by airport owner BAA to close its final salary pension scheme to new employees from Saturday.
Brendan Gold, Unite national secretary for civil aviation, said: "BAA has just posted profits of more than £500million and its Spanish owner Ferrovial has seen its profits rise by nearly 60 per cent. It is clear that the pension scheme is financially sound and should be left alone."
Mr Gold said the workforce had "lost trust" in BAA and the employees was being viewed as the "first step in axing the whole scheme for everyone".
A spokesman for BAA said the strike threat was "unnecessary" and the company wanted to continue to hold talks with the union.
• Bus drivers and supervisors working for First West have been called out on strike over pay on Friday 7 December.
First West operates services from garages in Westbourne Park, Greenford, Willesden Junction, Acton and Alperton.
Reader views (14)
To use the public as a pawn in their dispute and to threaten strike action at the busiest time of year, is wrong, unethical and shows a complete lack of conscience and responsibility. They should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
- John Adam, London, UK
I know the strike has not been confirmed, however, the strike won't only affect the strikers employers' pockets. I'm hopefully to fly out on the 30/12/07 - I have contacted the Airline and my travel insurance - seems that due to the potential strike and the "notice period" my travel insurance doesn't cover me and the airline will not offer a refund, they will only to put me on their next flight, which could be after my holiday. So the airlines would receive millions from BAA but Joe public would be out of pocket. Doesn't seem fair.
- Paul, London
Does anybody here understand the problem? All BAA are saying is that they will no longer take 20 odd years of re-investment risk for their employees. They are not saying they will not contribute to employees pensions. As car companies etc. have shown us, you can not operate a business these days with those sorts of liabilities. It's not a Socialist state (yet) so you have to look after yourself.
- Mark, London, UK
So they are upset about losing thier final salary pension to new employees so what is the issue. If the new emplyees don'y like the conditions they don't have to join the company.
Many of us have had this restriction for years for new joiners and most of us after many years of service have had our final salary pension closed completely
If you want these sort of perks then become a politician.
- Jan, Brighton
Er Georgie - they should be allowed to strike because we live in a democracy and not a dictatorship. Sorry to disappoint you.
- Nick, London
Same old, same old. Every year at Xmas...yawn
- Grim Reaper, London
Irrespective of what one feels about BAA and its management, Unite's action is out of touch with the employment market. Furthermore, since BAA's proposals will not affect any existing employees, the strike call is both disproportionate and cyncial as it will cause enormous distress and financial loss to thousands of travellers - many of whom will be members of the Union.
- Phil, City of London
Bring back Maggie Thatcher and sack the lot of them. If they don't want to work, then they don't want the job.
- Graham, Reading, England
Bring back Maggie Thatcher and sack the lot of them. If they don't want to work, then they don't want the job.
- Graham, Reading, England
Of course everone is missing the point here. Those that have entered comments here will be facing a terrible pension after the age of 68 because you have let the 'final' pension scheme go to the wall. Companies are so eager to stop these schemes because they know that they can save money for shareholders.
Here's wishing you a happy retirement on what you receive from the state.
- Paul, London
BAA has the worst employees. They are slow, inefficient and look plane lazy. Why should they be able to strike?
- Georgie, Islington, London
The government should have sorted out BAA a long time ago. The Spanish owners are making too much money from the British travelling public!
- Lordy, London
This just adds to the enormous misery of flying to these airports, with their European Lost Luggage Mountain, tiny cramped car parks, endless queues and insane 'security' measures which mean you can board a plane with a 4-blade razor but can't carry on a Thomas The Tank Engine see-through umbrella.
Time someone competent ran them!
- Roz, Chamonix, France
Take away all the verbal frills and excuses and you're left with one simple fact. A strike when people most want to use a service is the most effective way of pressuring the employer. If anyone isn't aware of the fact yet, the people using the service, any service, (and who are paying the wages of those same striking workers when all's said and done), are seen simply as the meal ticket for those workers. They're cash cows, nothing more. Just how many workers can honestly say they are setting out to provide a service? Few, I suspect.
The trouble then, is that when they come up with a legitimate gripe, it gets lost in the opportunistic grasping for extras. Heads up folks, fairy stories usually have morals to the tale, a good example being that old favourite about 'crying wolf'.
- Rogan, Dallas TX
