Date set for strike
16.11.07
Staff at Liverpool Airport will strike from next Thursday unless their wage demands are met, union leaders told management today. If the strike goes ahead, it will shut down the airport as more than 80% of its staff, including firefighters, engineers, airside safety, airport parking 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. The unions have about 100 members at the airport.
The union has warned airport management not to escalate the situation by bringing in outside cover during the strike. GMB organiser Eddie Parker said: 'The company owns other airports (Durham Tees Valley and Robin Hood) and are probably looking at contingency plans. But if they bring in people to use the fire engines, we would not use them again.'
In a more positive sign, Mr. Parker met with members at the airport yesterday who agreed to lower their wage demands from the original 4.8% they called for. He was set to meet management today to table the latest demand - and to inform them of plans to strike from November 22 if they fail to meet it.
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