8497 BAA dispute

Seems that the trade union strategy on the BAA pension dispute may be paying off, to the benefit of intending air passengers.
The following is from the Press Association this (Monday) evening.
Happy New Year
rgds
Eddie B

The first of a series of new year strikes by workers at seven airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, was called off tonight following a breakthrough in peace talks over a row about pensions.
Thousands of firefighters, security and clerical workers were due to walk out for 24 hours next Monday in the first of three stoppages in protest at a decision by BAA to close its final salary pension scheme to new workers.
Following several hours of negotiations today, officials from the Unite union said an agreement had been reached in principle to hold "proper consultations" over the future of the pension scheme before any changes are made.
The agreement will be discussed by union representatives on Thursday but in the meantime next Monday's strike has been called off.
Further strikes planned for January 14 and January 17/18 will be called off if the deal is accepted by the union representatives on Thursday.
A union spokesman said: "The company has agreed there will be proper discussions before any decision is reached on the future of the pension scheme."
The breakthrough came after almost eight hours of talks at a secret location between leaders of Unite and the Public and Commercial Services union and officials from BAA.
Hopes had risen during the day that a deal could be reached after both sides expressed optimism that industrial action could be avoided.
The breakthrough will come as a huge relief to hundreds of thousands of travellers who faced chaos if next week's strike had gone ahead.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen Airports would have been closed by next week's walkout.
Travellers returning to the UK this weekend would also have had their plans disrupted.
The unions had warned BAA and its Spanish owner, Ferrovial, that they had to reverse the decision to close the pension scheme to new workers before the industrial action was halted.
Workers voted by 2-1 for strike action in a pre-Christmas ballot and were said to be determined to go on strike to secure the pension scheme for future as well as current employees.
A spokesman for BAA said: "Following a productive discussion, BAA and the trade unions have reached an agreement in principle.
"The trade unions will now consult their members on the proposed agreement and, to allow sufficient time for that, have agreed to call off the industrial action planned for January 7.
"BAA and the trade unions will meet again on January 4."
end

Category
Travel & Holiday Advice

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 13:27

Well that's good news Eddie but note only the first one is called off. The one on the 17th seems to be still problematic and I've been thinking of booking an alternative, just in case. Can I hold out until Thursday??? lol

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 16:23

[quote=turtle;79650]Well that's good news Eddie but note only the first one is called off. The one on the 17th seems to be still problematic and I've been thinking of booking an alternative, just in case. Can I hold out until Thursday??? lol[/quote]

I think you'll probably be OK - I assume that they'll settle for something like the Network Rail pension compromise where staff have to stay with the company for a set period [say 5 years] before they can join the final salary scheme. This cuts down on the cost to the scheme of people 'moving on quickly' - something that is more prevalent these days.

As the recipient of a final salary pension - I think they are fantastic - but they do cost a lot to finance [both by the employer and employee]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/01/2008 - 06:21

well done the airport workers, we might all still have a final salary scheme if we had been prepared to fight like they have.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 07:51

They're called off

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7169738.stm]BBC NEWS | Business | UK airport strikes are called off[/url]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 07:53

Following statement just issued by Unite union after cancelling remaining strikes
rgds
Eddie B
BAA STRIKES CANCELLED AFTER PENSION VICTORY

Representatives of workers at Britain’s seven BAA airports have voted to accept a pensions peace formula and to call off their threatened series of strike action.

The move follows what union negotiators hailed as a ‘major victory’ in when the Spanish-owned airport company withdrew the decision to close its final salary pension scheme to new entrants.

BAA airport firefighters, security, maintenance, administrative and clerical staff belonging to Unite:the union and PCS had voted to hold a series of strikes at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports to defend their pension scheme.

BAA has now withdrawn its decision to close the scheme to new entrants, following talks with the Unite and PCS.

A strike due for next Monday at the seven airports had already been called off after union negotiators met BAA management earlier this week.

Today the strikes planned for January 14 and January 17 were also cancelled, after the company agreed to hold proper consultations over the future of the pension scheme.

Unite national aviation secretary Brendan Gold said today: “This is good news for our members, for BAA and for air travellers. It is a total vindication of the action taken by our members in voting to defend their pension scheme.

“Our members didn’t want to strike, but had been left with no option because of the attack on their pension scheme. We have now achieved agreement that there will be no interference with our members’ pension scheme without proper talks.

“Our members’ pension scheme is financially sound, and there is no reason to close it to new entrants. We are glad that BAA accepts that no changes should be introduced without proper consultation.”

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 07:59

That's good news for anybody using there airports and the workers!!