Airport staff vote on strike action

Airport staff vote on strike action

Strike action could affect flights in the run up to Easter

Security staff at one of the country's biggest airports are to vote on strike action following a dispute over shift changes.

About 100 workers at Birmingham International Airport will be balloted next month in a dispute which could affect flights in the run-up to Easter, according to Amicus union

The union said the airport was threatening to impose changes to shift patterns in May, which would lead to security staff working four days on, four days off.

Amicus' regional officer Pete Coulson said: "It is very unfortunate that we are having to ballot our members, especially under the present circumstances of such a high security profile at airports, but we have been left with no option."

Shift changes

A consultative ballot of the workers showed that 94% were opposed to the shift changes.

An airport spokesman said two thirds of their staff were already working the four day pattern and were not involved in the dispute.

"Removing the outdated practice, which has been agreed by a joint union/company disputes panel, is designed to maintain the high standards of security that the airport company is committed to upholding," said the spokesman.

He said the high level of security would be maintained and flights would be unaffected if strike action went ahead.

Birmingham International Airport is the second largest airport outside London and attracted eight million passengers last year.