Travel boost after strike action by airport ground staff is axed

Walkout by Swissport workers off as pay offer increases, says union

THOUSANDS of travellers who are due to fly out of Scottish airports in the run-up to Christmas have been given a boost after a planned 48-hour strike by baggage handlers and check in staff was called off.

The pay dispute would have caused disruption to travellers on Friday and on Christmas Eve at 18 UK airports, including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Members of Unite employed by Swissport were due to walk out from Friday, threatening disruption for families and other travellers leaving the UK for Christmas.

They voted for industrial action in protest at a 4.65 per cent pay offer over three years.

The strike was called off following talks at the conciliation service Acas.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey took part in the talks and announced that the strike had been cancelled after an improved pay offer.

Talks are continuing to try to avert strikes by British Airways cabin crew but Mr McCluskey said progress was “painfully slow”.

Glasgow Airport said it was “pleased to learn the planned industrial action by employees of Swissport has been called off.”

British Airways cabin crew are still due to strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in a separate dispute over pay. The airline said it will run a full service despite the strike.

Mr McCluskey appealed to senior management at BA to get involved in the talks.

“I will make myself available 24 hours a day to try to reach an agreement, “he said.

Strikes could also spread to London Underground in the New Year, it was warned.

Thousands of rail and Post Office workers continued to take industrial action yesterday, with more walkouts planned.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Southern Railway completed a 48-hour stoppage in a long-running row over the role of conductors.

Coupled with a continuing ban on overtime by drivers in Aslef, the action caused fresh chaos for Southern’s passengers, with services delayed or cancelled.

Post Office workers in the Communication Workers Union remained on strike in a dispute over jobs, pensions and branch closures.

The RMT said it was actively considering strikes on London Underground in protest at a programme of savings that it said had led to 800 job losses.

The RMT reacted angrily to reports the Prime Minister told a meeting of Conservative MPs in constituencies served by Southern that other train operators should run longer trains, and more buses should be laid on, to compensate for the disruption passengers have faced for months.

The CWU called for the board of the Post Office to be held accountable for their decisions that have led to the ongoing dispute.

General secretary Dave Ward said: “It is totally unacceptable that board members earning hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money are not facing up to the media in this dispute.”

The Post Office said 35 branches were closed by the strike today, one fewer than on Monday.

All branches will operate as usual today – the last recommended day for first class post – Thursday and Friday, but closures are expected on Christmas Eve during another strike.

‘‘ Board members earning hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money are not facing up to the media