Baggage Handlers vote to strike

[mpenage]

From Sky news:
Baggage Strike Hits 17 Airports
Baggage handlers at 17 airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, have voted to strike in a dispute over pay, threatening chaos to summer flights. Transport and General Workers Union members, employed by services group Aviance, overwhelmingly backed walkouts in protest at a 2.5% offer.The union, which has members at 17 airports across the UK, said talks will be held with the company on Wednesday in a bid to avert stoppages.

Workers voted by 658 to 163 in favour of strikes, a majority of 4-1. Industrial action short of a strike was supported by 85% of those who voted.

TGWU national officer Brendan Gold said: "This is a resounding vote by our members which sends a clear signal to Aviance that they must improve on the offer.

"The talks this Wednesday will now take on an added significance. Everyone is aware that aviation is a tough market and nobody is better placed to know that than the baggage handlers and check-in staff.

"They also know that the volume of their work is increasing as the industry gets busier and passenger numbers break record levels.

"That being the case, they know a bad deal when they see one, which is why we urge Aviance to listen to their workforce and act to improve the deal on offer and so avoid a damaging dispute."

Aviance operations are at Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Coventry, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Jersey, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester, Stansted, Southampton and Teesside airports.

[EGAC_Ramper]

Yay and we are getting taking over by Aviance this year quite soon should it go through with Ferrovial the Spanish owners of Belfast City!:sad: :*

[Ex Oggie]

Aviance at Coventry?..........not any more I don't think.

[Skypartners]

Nope it's the thoroughly nice blokes n gels of Coventry Airport Handling. Amazing how many media have misreported the story.

[Daysleeper]

This is crazy 2.5% is as good if not a lot better than many flight crew will be getting. According to A TGWU spokeswoman they dont like 2.5% because they got 4.2% last year! So because the employers were generous last year they want the same again. Sack the lot of them.

[ALLMCC]

EGAC Ramper

Does that mean last years rumours of Menzies is dead in the water?

[master slug]

Daysleeper

It seems to me that you are missing the point here.

2.5% of your wage compared to there wage is a vast increase.

You must understand that these Baggage handlers are just above the Govt minimum wage.

You also failed to mention that the employers also wanted to reduce holidays aswell.

so as for sacking them.... you should be sympathetic towards them..



So says the slug.....

[EGAC_Ramper]

ALLMCC

Indeed the sale to menzies fell through twice and so now Aviance are the sole contenders left.Which non of us want as we'd rather be kept in house.But instead it will be 50/50 between Aviance and Ferrovial.

Can just see the new comany name now !!

Ferrovial Aviance Ground Services FAGS for short!!:sad:

And I for one agree with thier strike too,at EGAC we comapred to Aviance are quite well paid and certainly by no means am I rich.So with the sale in mind I'm starting my options for my fATPL training hopefully within next 6months.

[Daysleeper]

You must understand that these Baggage handlers are just above the Govt minimum wage.
You also failed to mention that the employers also wanted to reduce holidays aswell.
so as for sacking them.... you should be sympathetic towards them..


I was unaware of the holiday issue and that would change the issue somewhat. However 2.5% is still a good increase at the moment in aviation and 4.2% last year was fantastic.
I dont see what my income has to do with it, what is relevant is the percentage increase (or decrease.) ie where you are now compared to a year ago.
As for just above minimum wages it is at best semi-skilled and mainly unskilled manual labour so you cant expect the same wage as someone in a skilled occupation.

[Tower Ranger]

Ac Ramper
- love the pneumonic , much better than Ferroviance or Aviaroverial!

With Aviance being a contractor surely the rates of pay at each station must differ quite considerably. I can`t imagine that they are paying the same amount at Belfast Int as they do at Gatwick or Dublin and did all of Aviance get 4.2% last year? I think not !!

[witchdoctor]

Percentages are important, my bum!

It's the amount of income these people have above and beyond an acceptable basic standard of living that's important. Another 15p here or there is an absolute nonsense.

It's easy to be blase about others incomes when you easily earn thousands of pounds over and above an acceptable basic wage.

And remember, it's these 'unskilled' people, including your dispatchers, pax agents and load controllers, who ensure your aircraft is safely loaded and fit to fly - all while you use your considerable skills to sit on your bum drinking coffee on the flight deck.;)

[master slug]

Its true that we cannot compare wage rates that of the driver up front and that of the loader.

But lets remind ourselves of what they do. they dont just put bags on a/c, they have to deal with and understand such things as Dangerous goods also have the understanding of Radioactive goods,Teamleaders have to be trained up to Jarop,s Standards.

They are also responsable for makeing sure all hold doors are safely locked and visible checks before departure, Just like yourself. But yet the owners of these handling company's still feel the need to squeeze more out of the workers.

But lets hope all party's see sence and resolve this issue


so says the slug....

[Harrier46]

Percentages are only relevant to the employer. The employee sees only the increase in their monthly take-home pay. There are always winners and losers in any industry and ours is no exception. But it would be nice to appreciate the efforts of the less well off because there but for the grace of God...........

[hotline]

Aviance appear to operate at many UK airports. Just wondering how many of those listed actually have Aviance-employed baggage handlers. For example, at LBA Aviance do check-in, pax escort and despatch but no baggage. These duties are undertaken by LBA employees (among other tasks), many of whom I believe are GMB members, not TGWU.