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November 27, 2007 |
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BAA LTD: Union to Vote on Strike Action Over Pension Cuts Key workers at BAA Ltd.'s seven airports -- including Heathrow, Gatwick and Glasgow -- are to vote on strike action in protest at cuts in the final salary pension scheme at the profitable Spanish-owned company. Over 5,000 airport firefighters, security, maintenance, administrative and clerical staff belonging to Unite, Britain's largest union, will be taking part in the ballot. "BAA has just posted profits of over GBP500 million and the Spanish owners Ferrovial have seen their profits rise by nearly sixty per cent. It is clear that the pension scheme is financially sound, and should be left alone," Unite national secretary for civil air transport Brendan Gold said. Mr. Gold said BAA and Ferrovial should understand that the workforce has lost trust in them. Not allowing new employees to join the company's final salary pension scheme after Dec. 1 was viewed as being the first step in the axing of the whole scheme for everyone. "It is no wonder BAA has a strike ballot on its hands coming up to one of its busiest seasons," he continued. "The timing of this dispute is entirely down to BAA and its Madrid paymasters." The strike ballot will start on Nov. 29, 2007, close on Dec. 20, 2007, and be run independently of the union. It will cover Unite members at BAA's seven airports at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. In the event of a "yes" vote the union will have a period of 28 days to take any action, and is required to give 7 days notice. If industrial action does take place, it is inevitable that airports affected will be closed. BAA called on Unite to participate in talks aimed at averting strike action following the announcement by the union that it is to hold an industrial action ballot. "BAA regrets the union's threat of industrial action, particularly in the Christmas period. It is unnecessary and it fails to put the interests of passengers first," a spokesman for BAA said. "BAA has given clear and unequivocal assurances that existing employees will not be affected by the end of the final salary pension scheme and that its replacement for new employees will be of the highest quality." The BAA spokesman said the airport operator is renewing its offer to resume face-to-face discussions with the union immediately. "Using the threat of industrial action, particularly at Christmas, can only create uncertainty for our passengers and their families, and will do nothing to change the underlying reasons that have led BAA to follow the example of most other leading companies in addressing the pension problem in the way we have," the spokesman said. "BAA believes that now is the time to talk." About BAA Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, BAA Ltd. (fka BAA plc) -- http://www.baa.com/ -- owns and operates seven airports in the United Kingdom, including Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport, and Budapest Airport, serving 700 destinations by around 300 airlines. In June 2006, BAA was bought by a consortium led by Grupo Ferrovial SA, the Spanish construction company. Ferrovial is one of the world's leading construction groups, specializing in four strategic lines of business - airports, construction, transport infrastructure and services - throughout Spain, the U.K., Portugal and nine other countries in Europe and the rest of the world. The company has around 89,000 employees and a net revenue of EUR12.4 billion. |
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