Perhaps someone at Hounslow Municipal may be able to correct me, but I understand that the airfield fire service is not responsible for 'domestic' fire cover ie terminals buildings, the tower etc. If the action coincides with action by the civil fire service then with no fire cover, we ain't gonna do any business!
You have to ask yourself what kind of nineteen year old macho business studies graduate thought that offering 1.7% to anyone would be unconditionally accepted by any group of workers.
It's almost an article of faith these days that you're not any kind of a manager unless you bring your department to the verge of industrial action.
edited for poor smelling