Airport workers at seven airports in England and Scotland voted to strike three times in January in a dispute over pensions, UPI reported. Unite, the trade union representing firefighters and security staff at the BAA-owned airports, said that its membership was angered by the Spanish-owned airport group's decision to close its salary pension schedule to new entrants, the Times of London reported Friday. The strikes will affect Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports for 24 hours Jan. 7 and Jan. 14, said Brendan Gold, a Unite spokesman. A 48-hour stoppage is planned for Jan. 17 if an accord isn't reached. Gold told The Times workers had lost faith in BAA and feared the decision not to allow new employees to join the final salary pension scheme after Dec. 1 was the first step in eliminating the entire plan. The union could have walked off any time after Dec. 28 but chose to wait until January so holiday travel plans wouldn't be disrupted, Gold told the newspaper. Virgin Atlantic cabin crew also voted for two 48-hour work stoppages in January over a separate pay dispute. The strikes against Virgin Atlantic are scheduled for Jan. 9 and Jan. 16.
