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."

FMI: www.gatwickairport.com/, www.tgwu.org.uk/