Airport staff vote to strike
11.11.07
Staff at Liverpool Airport have voted to strike after refusing a 'final' pay offer. If the strike goes ahead, it will shut down the airport as more than 80% of its staff, including firefighters, engineers, airside safety and air traffic control staff, have backed the action.
The staff were balloted by the GMB and Unite (formerly the Transport & General Workers) unions, after they refused to accept a deal from airport management that would have given them 3.8% backdated to April, rising to 4%, back-dated from the beginning of October.
Members of the GMB union, which has about 100 members at the airport, including fire fighters, backed industrial action nine to one. The unions want at least a 5% rise and, although they are still talking with management, could now give notice for a pre-Christmas strike.
Airport bosses said they were 'disappointed' the deal had been rejected but are still hoping strike action can be averted through further talks. Neil Pakey, Liverpool Airport's managing director, said: 'The desire to resolve this dispute is naturally stronger than ever. I remain confident that further talks will see continued progress.'
Despite the ballot result, union chiefs confirmed dialogue would continue. In a joint statement, Eddie Parker, GMB regional organiser and Carol Devereux, Unite regional organiser added: 'There is no doubt that lengthy talks that the airport has held with unions are helping to resolve this dispute. However we need to address the outstanding issues.'
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