Liverpool airport faces strikes over the upcoming August bank holiday weekend after contract workers voted in favour of industrial action in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
The GMB Union said around 200 workers on the Swissport Easyjet and Swissport Mainline contracts voted “overwhelmingly” for the strikes over “health and safety issues, working practices, pay and the company’s breach of the recognition agreement”.
Strike dates are set for between 0400 and 200 on 22, 24 and 29 August, posing a threat to the busy end-of-summer bank holiday weekend.
GMB said further dates could follow if talks fail to result in an agreement, and the workers involved will also be under a continuous overtime ban.
Eddie Parker, GMB organiser, commented: “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 airport management.
“Health and safety of workers and travellers must come first – not to mention the pay issues and they 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 out to our members.”
A spokesperson for Swissport 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.”
The news comes as passengers continue to await confirmation of whether or not a strike at Heathrow airport will go ahead on 23 and 24 August. A walk-out planned by security staff at Gatwick for this weekend has been suspended while workers vote on a new pay offer.