UK airport operator BAA agreed to double its pay offer to its staff to avert the threat of a strike that would have brought its six airports to a standstill.
Last week, BAA’s 1% offer was rejected and 74% of balloted union members voted in favour of strike action. During talks at conciliation service Acas, the Unite, Prospect and PCS trade unions agreed a 2% pay rise with BAA and a lump sum of £500 (US$770).
BAA said: “Following discussions at Acas, trade unions have agreed to recommend to members BAA’s revised offer of an unconditional 2% on pay and allowances and a guaranteed airport profit bonus for 2010 of a minimum of £500. “We believe this is a fair offer for staff in what remains a difficult economic environment for the aviation industry.”
Unite officers Brian Boyd and Brendan Gold said: “This offer is double what BAA had originally offered, with no strings attached. Plus it comes with a guaranteed lump sum of £500. “The negotiations where tough, but Unite has delivered a fair offer for BAA staff.” Unite said the new offer would “set the standard” for pay deals in the industry. If the strikes had gone ahead, Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen airports would have been forced to close, with UK forwarders facing lengthy delays to cargo services.
Source: Katerina Kerr, IFW News, 18 May 2010