The threat of a strike by staff at six UK airports this month has been lifted after a new pay deal was offered. The Unite union and the airports’ operator BAA agreed a “basis for settlement” following a day of talks.
A strike was threatened at Heathrow – the world’s third busiest airport, Stansted, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton after engineers and other ground staff rejected a pay deal. The action may very well have taken place over the busy August Bank Holiday period causing all manner of chaos.
Agreement to end the strike threat came after nine hours of talks, but no details of the new offer were released. Engineers, security staff, and firefighters at the airports had voted to strike over a pay offer of up to 1.5%.
Following yesterday’s talks, Unite’s National Secretary Brendan Gold said that BAA had tabled a “much improved” offer, and airport workers would be urged to accept the deal. He added he was “confident” a strike could also be avoided at any later stage.
Workers will be balloted on the new offer, with the result likely to be announced in about three weeks, he said.
“We are very pleased to be able to reassure the travelling public that we, for our side, have worked tirelessly to achieve a settlement,” Mr Gold said.
BAA director Terry Morgan said that “both parties came to the table wanting a settlement, so the talks were very constructive”.
Both sides had come out with a deal they were happy with, he added, without giving any further detail. It’s expected that details of the new pay deal will be announced later this week.
Scott Snowden
Related stories
• World’s most efficient airports named
• Beijing airport now world’s 2nd busiest
• Delhi airport readies new terminal
• Dubai opens what will be world’s biggest airport
• Gatwick airport to get £1 billion revamp
