"UK airport baggage strike called off"

Thursday, July 8, 2004

Airport baggage strike called off
United Kingdom - The Manchester Evening News


A SUMMER strike by baggage handlers at Manchester Airport has been
averted after a pay deal was agreed.

Holidaymakers had been warned they faced a summer of chaos after the
baggage handlers voted overwhelmingly to strike over a 2.5 per cent pay
offer.

But last night bosses and trade unions thrashed out a pay deal to avert
strike action at Manchester and 16 other airports around the country.

Managers agreed on a two-and-a half year pay deal worth 3.5 per cent
this year and a similar amount in 2005. 

Trade union leaders will now recommend that the baggage handlers and
check-in staff settle the dispute.

Breakthrough

The breakthrough agreed by officials from three trade unions and baggage
handling firm Aviance came after long talks at Gatwick airport.

Confident

Unions argued that a pay rise of 2.5 per cent was not enough as the
average baggage handler's wage was only around £15,000-£16,000 and last
year's pay award was 4.2 per cent. 

Allan Black, national officer of the GMB union, said he was confident
the new deal would now be accepted by workers. "It is the best offer
that can be achieved through negotiations," he said. 

"A strike was the last thing we wanted so this has been a good day for
the unions, a good day for the company and good day for passengers."

Brendan Gold, national officer of the Transport and General Workers
Union, said: "I am pleased that after a hard day's negotiations the
company has recognised the contribution of its workers. We will be
recommending this deal."

Richard Hunt, chief executive of Aviance, which employs 2,300 workers at
17 airports, said: "We always knew it would involve a lot of hard work.

"But we have now reached agreement which enables us to reassure our
customers and, through them, the travelling public, that there will be
no disruption." 

Mr Hunt said he also hopes the deal will prevent any possible strikes
next summer.


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