Crisis talks avert airport strikes
Last updated at 12:44 05 July 2004
An airport strike was averted yesterday after baggage handlers and check-in staff settled a pay dispute.
Union leaders had threatened to spoil the summer holiday plans of millions by striking at 15 airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick. But airline services company Aviance UK has bowed to pressure and upped its pay offer to 3.5 per cent.
The Transport & General Workers Union had been preparing to strike in two weeks, hitting charter airlines such as First Choice and MyTravel, as well as scheduled operators EasyJet, Air France and British Midland. A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents described the deal as 'a vote for commonsense'.
Aviance's chief executive Richard Hunt said: 'We have agreed a two-year deal which enables us to give reassurance to our customers that they will not have this ongoing uncertainty.'
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