Airport workers to strike over redundancies

Baggage handlers at a city's airport have voted to go on strike, their union announced today.

Around 150 workers employed by ServisAir at Liverpool's John Lennon Airport will stage the continuous industrial action from Thursday August 20, the GMB said.

The action, sparked by a row over compulsory redundancies, will affect flights by Ryanair, KLM, Wizzair, Flybe and Thomson.

The union claims ServisAir intends to force 51 staff to reapply for 27 jobs.

Senior organiser Terry Mellor said: "GMB members are angry and have voted overwhelmingly to take action to get these compulsory redundancies withdrawn.

"All-out continuous strike action is planned to go ahead from 4am on Thursday 20 August.

"It will involve all GMB members employed as baggage handlers and other apron staff at the airport."

The union said there was a "very high" turnout in the strike ballot and more than 90% voted in favour of the action.

"GMB and our members at the airport want to avoid disrupting the travel plans of the public," Mr Mellor added.

"We urge the airport owner to intervene and put pressure on ServisAir withdraw the threat of compulsory redundancies and for them to enter into meaningful talks with GMB to avert this action."

John Lennon Airport, which last year had 5.47 million customers, is owned by Peel Holdings.