British Airport Workers Threaten Strike Action

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http://www.homesworldwide.co.uk/europe/ ... id=0048797

The business view but interesting that we are not the only one worried about Final Salary Pensions.

Dispute over the closure of final salary pension scheme could result in industrial action, which will affect flights over the Christmas season.

If you're hoping to get away to somewhere warm and sunny this Christmas, you might find yourself being frustrated by industrial action at the airport. BAA, which owns and runs seven British airports (the three main Scottish airports, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, the three main London ones, Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, and Southampton) is planning to close its final salary pension scheme to new employees from December. Trades union Unite (which was created when Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union merged) is unhappy about this, saying that workers are concerned that closing the scheme to new workers may be just the start of changes to pensions, and that they fear the whole final salary scheme may be in jeopardy.

In a survey by lastminute.com, many people surveyed said that they'd saved up a chunk of their annual holiday allowance to take over the festive season. While many of them may be hoping for an extended family Christmas at home, many will be planning to jet off to a hotel or holiday home overseas. Earlier this year a spokeperson for ABTA claimed that August and Christmas are the two main times when Britons go on holiday. An airline strike during one of the busiest times of the year could leave people frustrated in the terminals.

If you're planning to travel abroad this winter and are worried about the prospects of strike action, the obvious solution is to fly through a non-BAA airport if you can afford to and it's convenient. London Luton, Manchester and Glasgow Prestwick are among the many that should not be affected by the strikes. You should always have travel insurance, and under EU law you're entitled to compensation for late or delayed flights, but that's of little comfort if your holiday plans are ruined.

If you own a rental property abroad, do you have appropriate insurance for loss of earnings? This will compensate you if you are unable to let your property. Make sure that you check the terms and conditions of your policy to make sure that it covers you if your tenants are not able to reach your property due to industrial action.

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main. ... trikes.xml

British travellers could face major disruption across seven major airports this Christmas, reports Charles Starmer-Smith.

British air travellers could face disruption over the Christmas period after workers across seven major airports called for a vote on whether to strike over BAA's changes to pension plans.

BAA, the world's biggest airport operator, is facing a potential walk-out after closing its pension plan for new employees.

Representatives from Unite, formed by the merger of the Transport & General Workers' Union and Amicus, have confirmed that a committee, representing around 6,000 security, administrative and maintenance staff, have formally called for the vote.

BAA argues that the change in the pension scheme would protect the company and pensioners from stock market volatility.

The ballot will be held at the end of this month. If union members vote for a strike, Unite will have a 28-day period within which it can organise any action.

BAA owns seven British airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton - all of which are likely to be affected should strike action go ahead.