AIRPORT STAFF VOTE TO STRIKE
SEVEN UK airports are facing strike action following a ballot of BAA workers.
Members of the Transport and General Workers' Union have voted for the move, following a rejection of the latest pay offer from BAA.
Any strike would involve firefighters, security guards and operational support workers employed at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Tim Lyle, T&G national secretary for aviation, says: "There will be a union meeting of senior stewards next Monday to plan the industrial action."
He describes the vote as showing the staff's "sheer frustration at the company's offer, given the increased workloads and responsibilities following September 11th".
Mr Lyle says: "Coupled with the knowledge that traffic figures have improved and the company is in profit, our members justifiably feel that the pay offer falls short of what they deserve."
The voting figures are 65.44% in favour of strike action, and 34.56% against. Turnout in the ballot was 78%.