"British Airport Workers Vote on Strike"

Thursday, August 5, 2004

British Airport Workers Vote on Strike
The Associated Press


Thousands of airport workers began voting Thursday on whether to strike
in support of higher pay, a move that could result in crippling walkouts
at Britain's major airports at the height of the tourist season.

Unions representing baggage-handlers and check-in staff have rejected a
three-year pay offer worth between 8.5 percent and 10.5 percent,
depending upon pension benefits. British Airways says it cannot afford
the unions' demands, which it says amount to 14.5 percent.

Unions have not set a possible strike date.

British Airways, which has written workers warning that a strike would
"seriously damage" the airline, on Wednesday offered to take the dispute
to arbitration.

But the two biggest unions, the Transport and General Workers' Union
(TGWU) and the GMB, say they want a negotiated settlement rather than
one imposed from outside.

Last month, 700 TGWU baggage-handlers employed by air services company
Aviance at some British airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, voted
4-1 to strike; negotiations are continuing.

More than 8,000 TGWU workers will vote until Aug. 18, including 4,500
baggage handlers at London's London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and
Edinburgh airport, and 3,700 check-in workers at the same airports as
well as Glasgow.

Heathrow is the world's busiest international airport, serving 63
million passengers per year.

Gatwick, which is Britain's second largest airport and No. 6 worldwide
in terms of international flights, serves 30 million passengers per
year.

GMB members have already held a strike vote but the results have not
been disclosed. A third union, Amicus, has said it favors arbitration.

British Airways, which has announced plans to cut $540 million in
employee costs over the next two years, said the union pay claim equates
to a 14.5 percent increase over three years, which is too expensive.

The TGWU says that basic earnings for baggage handlers are $25,000 a
year. Check-in and administration staff earn between $18,000 and
$22,000.


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