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18/08/2009
Strike May Hit Bank Holiday Air Travellers
Airports may be left in chaos should proposed industrial action get the go-ahead.
As the August Bank Holiday weekend looms, travellers may be facing the nightmare of both baggage handlers and check-in staff refusing to work.
The dispute is set to hit all three of the UK's busiest airports where staff are being balloted for industrial action.
There are fears employees of Swissport, Rentokil Initial and ASIG at Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted could strike over the popular holiday weekend.
The Unite and GMB unions are accusing the company of reneging on an agreement to give workers a 2.75% pay rise.
In response, Swissport said it was "incurring heavy losses" during the recession and any strike action would threaten jobs.
But unions had been expecting workers to receive their pay rise in April under a two-year deal struck this time last year.
That prevented a walk out last August Bank Holiday but now, a spokesman for the GMB said the result of the ballot would be known on Friday.
The workers being balloted include more than 300 at Gatwick and about the same number at Manchester.
A spokesman for Unite said that under the second year of the deal agreed in 2008, they were due a minimum 2.75% pay increase.
"But Swissport are reneging on that second-year deal," he said.
"They are saying that any pay increase needs to be self-financing, but we are saying this is a deal which has been agreed and we want them to keep to it.
"Once they initiate the deal then we will agree to negotiate and talk with them more."
A spokesman for Swissport criticised the threat of bank holiday action, which he said was "designed to cause maximum disruption".
(BMcC/KMcA)
As the August Bank Holiday weekend looms, travellers may be facing the nightmare of both baggage handlers and check-in staff refusing to work.
The dispute is set to hit all three of the UK's busiest airports where staff are being balloted for industrial action.
There are fears employees of Swissport, Rentokil Initial and ASIG at Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted could strike over the popular holiday weekend.
The Unite and GMB unions are accusing the company of reneging on an agreement to give workers a 2.75% pay rise.
In response, Swissport said it was "incurring heavy losses" during the recession and any strike action would threaten jobs.
But unions had been expecting workers to receive their pay rise in April under a two-year deal struck this time last year.
That prevented a walk out last August Bank Holiday but now, a spokesman for the GMB said the result of the ballot would be known on Friday.
The workers being balloted include more than 300 at Gatwick and about the same number at Manchester.
A spokesman for Unite said that under the second year of the deal agreed in 2008, they were due a minimum 2.75% pay increase.
"But Swissport are reneging on that second-year deal," he said.
"They are saying that any pay increase needs to be self-financing, but we are saying this is a deal which has been agreed and we want them to keep to it.
"Once they initiate the deal then we will agree to negotiate and talk with them more."
A spokesman for Swissport criticised the threat of bank holiday action, which he said was "designed to cause maximum disruption".
(BMcC/KMcA)
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19 August 2009
Bank Holiday Air Strike Balloted
Baggage handlers and check-in staff at three of the UK's busiest airports are being balloted for industrial action, which may lead to flight disruption over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Employees of Swissport, Rentokil Initial and ASIG at Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted airports may strike.
Bank Holiday Air Strike Balloted
Baggage handlers and check-in staff at three of the UK's busiest airports are being balloted for industrial action, which may lead to flight disruption over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Employees of Swissport, Rentokil Initial and ASIG at Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted airports may strike.
15 July 2003
Childcare charges rise over summer holidays
Families face a huge rise in the cost of summer holiday childcare, according to a new survey published today by the national childcare charity, Daycare Trust. The typical weekly cost of a place for a child in a summer holiday play scheme is set to rise by 16%, according to the report. Currently, the typical cost for childcare is £67.
Childcare charges rise over summer holidays
Families face a huge rise in the cost of summer holiday childcare, according to a new survey published today by the national childcare charity, Daycare Trust. The typical weekly cost of a place for a child in a summer holiday play scheme is set to rise by 16%, according to the report. Currently, the typical cost for childcare is £67.
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Rail Workers To Strike On Bank Holiday Monday
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Rail Workers To Strike On Bank Holiday Monday
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20 August 2004
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Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train service that links the UK with France and Belgium, has reassured customers that proposed strike action by the RMT "will have no impact at all on passengers".
RMT strike action will not affect services, Eurostar say
Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train service that links the UK with France and Belgium, has reassured customers that proposed strike action by the RMT "will have no impact at all on passengers".
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