More travel misery for air passengers

Updated 15.57 Tue Aug 19 2008

Keywords: Manchester, Stansted, union, Gatwick, airports, industrial action, Unite, Strike

Two 24-hour strikes are to be held at a major UK holiday airport, the Unite union has announced.

Air passengers face more late-summer misery after baggage handlers and check-in staff belonging to the union voted overwhelmingly to strike at Manchester Airport on Wednesday, August 27 and Monday, September 1.

As many as 97 per cent of Unite members voted in favour of the strikes which could hit services run by, among others, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, KLM, Air France and Monarch

As many as 97 per cent of Unite members voted in favour of the strikes which could hit services run by, among others, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, KLM, Air France and Monarch.

Among airlines that could be affected by the Gatwick stoppage are Virgin, Monarch, First Choice and Thomsonfly, while the Stansted strike could hit easyJet, Ryanair and First Choice.

The staff are employed by ground services company Swissport. Unite is unhappy with its "paltry" pay offer and is objecting to new sick-pay arrangements.

The Manchester announcement follows two 24-hour strikes already called by Unite at Gatwick and Stansted airports on Bank Holiday Monday and on Friday, August 29.

Unite members at Swissport are also shortly to be balloted at Birmingham and Newcastle airports.