scoot
1st Aug 2003, 22:57
Manchester Airport Summer Strikes
HOLIDAYMAKERS have been threatened with summer chaos at Manchester Airport with the possibility of wildcat strikes.
Two disputes could cause major disruption - proposals to slash wages of a group of key administration workers and a pay row involving aircraft engineers.
In the first row, up to 143 staff including airfield workers, duty managers, information desk assistants and a handful of office clerks were told last week that bosses wanted to slash their wages by up to 36 per cent.
It is understood some of those affected by the proposals - employees of the core business Manchester Airports plc - are considering unofficial action including wildcat strikes.
Last year, security workers angered at plans to slash wages by 40 per cent and axe 140 jobs staged a series of strikes.
Of the latest dispute, one worker said: "It's an absolute disgrace. We've got families to feed and mortgages to pay.
"We've seen what kind of effect the unofficial action has had at Heathrow - that's probably the only language they understand."
Pay cut
Several other workers told the M.E.N. that industrial action was a real option.
Some night-shift airfield workers on £26,000 a year have been asked to take a £9,500 pay cut.
It is understood Transport and General Workers' Union officials are considering a strike ballot.
An airport spokesman said: "We don't want to comment at this stage because to do so would be to pre-empt the outcome of negotiations."
Meanwhile, the dispute between 150 aircraft engineers and their bosses at MyTravel could only make matters worse.
The workers are being balloted on possible strike action. Their union Amicus is targeting the busy August 25 bank holiday weekend for the first strikes.
One engineer said: "We were actually told there would be no pay rise at all at first. Then they came back and offered a one per cent rise, which they told us was a gesture of goodwill. It's just insulting."
A spokesman for MyTravel, the Manchester-based travel giant which has a share in the engineering business, said: "If there is a vote for industrial action we would like to reassure customers that in all circumstances our aircraft will be maintained to the highest standards and we will keep flying."
31/07/2003 Copyright Manchester Evening News
HOLIDAYMAKERS have been threatened with summer chaos at Manchester Airport with the possibility of wildcat strikes.
Two disputes could cause major disruption - proposals to slash wages of a group of key administration workers and a pay row involving aircraft engineers.
In the first row, up to 143 staff including airfield workers, duty managers, information desk assistants and a handful of office clerks were told last week that bosses wanted to slash their wages by up to 36 per cent.
It is understood some of those affected by the proposals - employees of the core business Manchester Airports plc - are considering unofficial action including wildcat strikes.
Last year, security workers angered at plans to slash wages by 40 per cent and axe 140 jobs staged a series of strikes.
Of the latest dispute, one worker said: "It's an absolute disgrace. We've got families to feed and mortgages to pay.
"We've seen what kind of effect the unofficial action has had at Heathrow - that's probably the only language they understand."
Pay cut
Several other workers told the M.E.N. that industrial action was a real option.
Some night-shift airfield workers on £26,000 a year have been asked to take a £9,500 pay cut.
It is understood Transport and General Workers' Union officials are considering a strike ballot.
An airport spokesman said: "We don't want to comment at this stage because to do so would be to pre-empt the outcome of negotiations."
Meanwhile, the dispute between 150 aircraft engineers and their bosses at MyTravel could only make matters worse.
The workers are being balloted on possible strike action. Their union Amicus is targeting the busy August 25 bank holiday weekend for the first strikes.
One engineer said: "We were actually told there would be no pay rise at all at first. Then they came back and offered a one per cent rise, which they told us was a gesture of goodwill. It's just insulting."
A spokesman for MyTravel, the Manchester-based travel giant which has a share in the engineering business, said: "If there is a vote for industrial action we would like to reassure customers that in all circumstances our aircraft will be maintained to the highest standards and we will keep flying."
31/07/2003 Copyright Manchester Evening News