So If BAA Staff do strike; say Security and Fire Service is unmanned and the Airports are forced to close for a day. How secure are they going to be when they reopen?
You're assuming that 100% of Security staff are in Unite and will come out on strike; not so. There will be quite a number of non-union staff who will be subject to disciplinary action if they don't come in to work when rostered to do so and there are also a large number of non-Unite office workers fully trained to do Passenger Search who will be required to carry out this function during thier normal working hours. All the airside access points will be looked after, don't worry about the airfield or departure lounges being 'open' for anyone to wander around in!
The Fire Service is another matter - always been more 'solid' union-wise. In the past, they were in a separate union and the majority view was that their T's & C's were sufficient for them not to take industrial action to secure any improvement. Maybe now they do feel under threat. THEY are the ones whose absence might preclude Public Transport flights, not Security. Incidentally, splitting hairs, but the word 'closing' isn't strictly appropriate. There might well be a number of aircraft movements, positioning and engineering flights for instance, not requiring Fire or Security cover. Doesn't make much difference if you're a passenger on a cancelled flight, I guess!
Incidentally, I don't think that any Army, local authority or RAF fire appliances can meet the requirements for CAT 9 fire cover, which is what would be required at Heathrow and Gatwick. Just maybe the appliances at Brize Norton or Lyneham, but of course they have their own needs. You won't be seeing Green Goddesses on the run at LHR or LGW!
TheOddOne