Liverpool John Lennon Airport staff have voted to strike on three dates in August, it has been announced. The strikes could cause travel chaos for many, with two of the proposed dates around the Bank Holiday weekend. Trade union GMB announced the news yesterday, revealing that around 200 workers on the Swissport EasyJet and Swissport Mainline contracts “voted overwhelmingly” for industrial action. They also said that further strike dates could be announced soon.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport strikes are due to take place on Thursday 22 August, Saturday 24 August and Thursday 29 August – all between 4am and 8pm.
The workers are walking out over “health and safety issues, working practices, pay and the company’s breach of the recognition agreement,” GMB said in a statement.
It added: “Further dates are expected to follow, and workers will be under a continuous overtime ban.”
Eddie Parker, GMB Organiser, 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 company’s breach of the recognition agreement.
There is still hope the strikes will not go ahead, as a new proposal has been put to union members.
Parker added: “In fairness to the company, they have just proposed a last-minute new offer which we will now put to our members.”
Swissport, which proposed the offer, said in a statement: “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 remains committed to resolving this matter to protect the interests of our customers, airline passengers and employees.”
John Lennon Airport has said that are confident there will be no disruption for passengers should the strikes go ahead.
A spokesman told Express.co.uk: “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 has 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.”
The news follows the announcement that Ryanair pilots have voted to take strike action, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers worried about flights being cancelled.
