Baggage handlers lose their jobs

The airport blames fierce competition

More than 300 baggage handlers at Manchester Airport are to lose their jobs, it has been announced.

The airport had planned to reduce the size of its baggage handling operation last year, blaming fierce competition in the field.

Officials have now said it is not possible to salvage any part of the business, meaning all handling jobs at Ringway Handling Services Ltd will go.

The 327 posts will be axed by the end of March, a spokesman said.

'Difficult time'

The union Unite had vowed to fight the redundancies when they were first announced in November.

A spokesman for the airport said the baggage handling market was very competitive.

He said: "Many airlines have multi-site deals across the world with global handling agents, making it difficult for smaller companies like Ringway's baggage handling business to compete.

"Throughout this difficult time, we are working closely with the trades unions and employees offering every support possible to our people, ensuring that they are treated with compassion and dignity," he said.

"We will also endeavour to redeploy the affected people into other areas of the business and assist them to get work with other employers on site."