Staff to vote on 'final' pay offer
04.10.07
Liverpool Airport faces a strike threat as workers vote on a 'final' pay offer. They are expected to reject the offer, which has not been recommended by unions, with a ballot on industrial action to follow. Any walkout could mean that the airport would be forced to close, as firefighters are among the staff involved in the dispute.
The airport has tabled what it says is its final pay offer to firefighters, maintenance staff and bird scarers. But the 3.8% wage rise, backdated to April 1 this year, with a further 0.2% from October 1, is short of the 4.8% rise that staff have demanded. Neither the GMB nor Amicus unions recommended that their members accept the deal.
The airport workers have started to vote on the pay offer today, with the result of the ballot expected next Wednesday (assuming it is not a postal vote, otherwise it could take a while longer). If the offer is rejected, unions will hold a further staff ballot on industrial action.
The GMB union's regional organiser, Eddie Parker, said: 'Our members are aware of the consequences of rejecting this final offer. We have made that clear on the ballot paper we put to them.'
'The staff have said that they will not accept anything less than 4.8% and their representatives said they would not recommend [the offer]. At this point there is a very strong likelihood there will be a ballot for industrial action.'
'The company view is they have reached the bottom of the barrel in respect that there's nothing else there.' He said there were further elements in the offer for firefighters would mean 'sacrifices within their terms and conditions'.
Liverpool Airport spokesman, Robin Tudor, said: 'We believe staff have been offered a generous pay award. We hope that they realise that, while the company is still not profitable, this is as a good offer, particularly compared with others in the public and private sector.'
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