Airport staff back January strikes

Workers including firefighters will walk out at 6am on January 7 for 24 hours, at 6am on January 14 for 24 hours and at 6am on January 17 for 48 hours.

The strikes are in protest at the closure of the final salary pension scheme for new workers at airports operator BAA.

The union said the strike would cause huge disruption and could even close the airports involved - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Workers involved in the industrial action include firefighters, maintenance and security staff and clerical workers.

The strikes follow a vote in favour of industrial action by 1,946 members of the Unite Union, with 1,108 voting against.

National Officer Brendan Gold said: "This is a 2-1 vote for strike action which is a powerful mandate and a strong message to BAA to think again."

Mr Gold told a news conference in London he believed the strikes would close all seven airports. He admitted this would cause a "huge amount of disruption" to travellers but he accused BAA of not doing enough to resolve the row.

"I am astonished and amazed at the way BAA has refused to tackle this issue. BAA has just posted profits of over £500 million and the Spanish owners Ferrovial have seen their profits rise by nearly 60%.

"It is clear that our members' pension scheme is financially sound and should be left alone.

"After a series of fruitless meetings with the company our members have been left with no option but to resort to industrial action to defend their interests."