Stansted baggage scanners begin 24-hour strike
Workers who operate luggage scanning equipment at Stansted Airport will go on a 24-hour strike today because of a deadlocked row over pay, union leaders in the UK said.
More than 30 members of the GMB will take industrial action from 3am after rejecting a 1.5% pay offer from their employers Airfield Services.
The union will mount a picket line at the airport in Essex, which will be used by 40,000 departing passengers today.
The GMB accused Airfield Services of refusing to go to the conciliation service Acas to settle the dispute which the union estimated would cost a total of £300 (€375) a week to resolve.
General Secretary Paul Kenny said it was “grossly irresponsible” of the company to refuse an offer of conciliation, adding: “The company’s claim that they cannot afford to settle the dispute is not credible since they are owned by 40 major financial institution worth billions of pounds.”
Stansted said it expected minimal or no disruption to flights because of the contingency plans put in place to deal with the walkout.
