Strikes deliver festive chaos

CHRISTMAS travellers are set to be plagued by major strikes this festive season.

Virgin Atlantic became the latest company to be hit by industrial action, after British Airways’ cabin crews said they would begin strikes next week.

BA also confirmed that cabin crew strikes would take place Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Virgin’s announcement of a pilots’ strike came as more than 1,500 check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew also announced they would down tools at 18 airports across the country.

The airport workers are set to strike for 48 hours from December 23 in a long-running pay dispute.

Unite’s National officer Oliver Richardson said: “We appreciate that this is a very busy time of year at the UK’s airports and that’s why we are calling for the company to engage in constructive talks to resolve this dispute.”

Pilots at Virgin will begin their industrial action on the same day, working “strictly to contract”.

The action is the latest in a string of major disputes.

The Post Office is set to be hit by walk-outs for five days from Monday, while Southern Railway commuters were plagued by industrial action disruption this week.

Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke fumed: “Hard working people, who the unions are supposed to represent, are going to see their long established plans to wind down with family and go away on breaks they’ve saved all year for, be wrecked by union grinches who simply don’t care.” MP Nicky Morgan, who criticised PM Theresa May’s £995 leather trousers, was replaced by a handbag on Have I Got News For You after pulling out.

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