Press Release

Baggage handlers and check-in staff vote for strike action at Manchester Airport

Tuesday, August 19 2008

Baggage handlers and check-in staff employed by Swissport at Manchester Airport have overwhelmingly voted to take industrial action in a dispute over pay.

Two 24 hour strikes have been scheduled to take place on the 27th August and 1st September. The strike will impact all baggage handling and check-in operations across airlines including; Air France, KLM, Monarch, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic as well as some smaller airlines.

Swissport have offered a 'paltry' 3% increase backdated to July rather than the anniversary date of 1st April and in a two year offer, RPI capped at 4% in year two. The RPI is currently 5%. The company offer also removes sick pay for the first three days of any absence due to illness, including industrial injury. The union is calling for an increase in excess of 5% in a one year deal without concessions. 97% of workers who took part in the ballot voted for strike action.

Last week the union announced that Swissport staff at Gatwick and Stansted will hold two 24 hour strikes on the 25th and 29th August. The Gatwick and Stansted strikes will halt all baggage handling and check-in operations across airlines including; Virgin Atlantic, Monarch, Thomson Fly, First Choice, North West, Air Malta, Air Transat, Oman Air as well as some smaller airlines.

Mick Whitley, Unite regional officer based at Manchester said: "Swissport's intentions to cut our members sick pay and offer a paltry wage deal when food and energy costs are spiralling is unacceptable. The staff working for Swissport at Manchester Airport are making it abundantly clear that they will not accept the erosion of their pay and terms and conditions."