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Liverpool airport faces bank holiday strike disruption

Liverpool’s John Lennon airport faces August bank holiday disruption unless 11th-hour talks prevent strike action.

Member of the GMB union have voted to take industrial action on three days – August 22, 24 and 29.

Around 200 workers on Swissport EasyJet and Swissport mainline contracts are involved in the row over alleged health and safety issues, working practices, pay and a breach of a recognition agreement.

Further dates are expected to follow, and workers will be under a continuous overtime ban, the union warned.

However, Swissport has put forward a new offer at the last minute which the union said would be put to members.


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GMB organiser Eddie Parker said: “Our members have voted to take strike action with a heavy heart – the last thing they want to do is stay off work – or make trouble for the people going on their holidays.

“But these are serious issues and they’ve been backed into a corner by the attitude of airports management.

“Health and safety of workers and travellers must come first – not to mention the pay issues and the the company’s breach of the recognition agreement.

“In fairness to the company, they have just proposed a last minute new offer which we will now put to our members.”

A Swissport spokesperson said: “We are aware that GMB has named three dates for potential industrial action.

“It’s important to note that the strike ballot was conducted on the basis of a previous offer and we are now in the final stages of proposing a revised offer for consideration.

“Negotiations are ongoing and we remain hopeful of reaching a resolution.

“Swissport remain committed to resolving this matter to protect the interests of our customers, airline passengers and employees.”

An airport spokesperson said: “We are naturally disappointed to hear that Swissport employees are due to stage three one-day periods of industrial action later this month. We are aware that talks are ongoing and would hope that these strikes can still be avoided.

“If this industrial action goes ahead, Swissport have assured the airport that robust plans are in place that will ensure there is no impact on the passenger experience and that it will remain business as usual during this time.”

 

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