Travel disruption for those flying in/out of UK to Thailand

Airport workers vote for strikes

Some of Britain's busiest airports are set to be disrupted after union members at BAA voted for strike action over plans to change pension rights. The Unite union has called 24-hour strikes starting at 0600GMT on 7 and 14 January, followed by a 48-hour strike starting at 0600GMT on 17 January.

The strikes will take place at all of BAA's seven UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh. BAA said it regretted the action and would try hard to minimise disruption. The company also operates Stansted, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports.

The date of the first strike, 7 January, is the day when rules on the amount of permitted carry-on baggage are due to change, which was already expected to cause some confusion in airports. Passengers will be allowed two items of carry-on baggage, but only if they are at an airport that has bought a new type of 3D scanner.

On Thursday, cabin crew at Virgin Atlantic announced they would be calling two 48-hour strikes in January in a dispute over pay.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7155147.stm

No need to panic...yet. The cost to BAA of the proposed action is so huge that negotiators will be working overtime to avoid it. Expect a compromise a couple of days before the first strike is due to start.

No need to panic...yet. The cost to BAA of the proposed action is so huge that negotiators will be working overtime to avoid it. Expect a compromise a couple of days before the first strike is due to start.In the meantime, let Forum members do their drama queen act and run around screaming "the sky is falling, the sky is falling"

Airport strikes talks fail

(BBC News report)

The prospect of ruined travel plans for hundreds of thousands of air passengers in the New Year remains after talks to avert crippling airport strikes failed.

The union Unite has warned that all seven BAA airports will close if the strikes go ahead because they involve crucial staff

Seven of Britain's biggest airports including Heathrow and Gatwick are now set to be closed by industrial action next month.

The strikes, over a pensions row, will cause major disruption for people taking ski-ing holidays and winter sunshine breaks as well as business travellers.

No further dates have been set for negotiations although union officials said there is still time for another attempt to head off two 24-hour and one 48-hour strike in January.

The first 24-hour walkout is due on January 7, followed by another strike on January 14 and a 48-hour stoppage from January 17 at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports.

Leaders of the union Unite met for several hours with the airports' owners BAA to try to resolve the pensions dispute, but the negotiations remained deadlocked.

No date has been set for any further meetings between the two sides.

The union has warned that all seven airports will close if the strikes go ahead because they involve crucial staff such as firefighters, security and maintenance workers.

let Forum members do their drama queen act and run around screaming "the sky is falling, the sky is falling"
It may not be a drama for you but it will be for those who have booked and paid to fly over the strike dates and for days either side of them (aircraft will not be positioned at their scheduled locations).

Never mind Homoturd, you can just crawl back into your drink-sodden hole, eat shit and ignore the whole thing !

First UK airport strike is halted

Union leaders have called off the first of three strikes, set for 7 January, that threatened to paralyse some of the UK's busiest airports. The decision comes after airport operator BAA called for last minute talks to resolve concerns about its plans to alter workers' pension rights.

The unions involved, Unite and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU), had called for three strikes. They were scheduled to take place for 24 hours starting at 0600 GMT on 7 and 14 January, and 48 hours from 0600 GMT on 17 January.

Union officials said that the first strike was called off after progress was made during Monday's talks. The outline of a deal over the pension scheme has been reached and will now go to union delegates for ratification. Should it be approved, then the strikes on 14 and 17 January will also be called off.

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 7 January. "BAA and the trade unions will meet again on 4 January."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7165196.stm

[Lunchtime O'Booze]

do they still pay pensions in the UK ?

do they still pay pensions in the UK ?
That's what the argument is about. BAA is trying to cease the 'final salary pension scheme' and replace it with one the staff have to pay into to get a pension benefit.

Most employers are moving in this direction if they are not already there.

UK airport strikes are called off

Unions have called off three strikes set for January that threatened to close the UK's busiest airports.
Officials voted to halt the industrial action after airport operator BAA eased plans to alter workers' pensions right.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7169738.stm