Thu, Apr 26, 2007
Two Separate Actions Could Disrupt Holiday Travel
Fifteen aircraft refuelers -- the
entire workforce at Gatwick Refueling Services -- are preparing to
strike. They plan to walk out from their jobs at London's Gatwick
Airport for 24 hours at 5 am BST Wednesday, May 2, and for 48 hours
beginning at 5 am BST Friday, May 4 -- a move that will likely
disrupt the May Bank holiday weekend flights.
The dispute centers on the call by the refuelers to have their
union, the Transport and General Workers Union, formally and fully
recognized. Currently, GRS -- which is partly owned by oil giants
BP, Total and Texaco -- is only offering the bare minimum
acknowledgment, according to a union statement.
Britain's AFX News reports Gatwick Airport officials say
contingency plans are in place to ensure minimal impact on
services, and GRS was doing all it could to resolve the issues to
avoid a strike.
A GRS spokeswoman said fully trained and experienced fueling
staff would be brought in to "ensure customers do not suffer any
disruption".
The T&G, the UK's largest civil aviation trade union, said
the dispute should be "straightforward to resolve if there was a
will by GRS."
"All our members want is the right for their trade union, the
T&G, to play a full part in representing them and negotiating
for them," said regional industrial organizer, Kevin Hall. "GRS
know how our members feel and how they are prepared to strike over
the issue.
"There is nothing to gain and everything to lose by the
company's attitude."
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