Airport workers' half-term strike suspended

Planned strikes by more than 130 workers at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) during the school half-term period have been suspended to allow for fresh pay negotiations.

Unite union members, including air traffic controllers and hourly paid staff such as passport control workers and passenger assistance, had been due to walk out from 23 October to 2 November in a dispute for pay parity with colleagues in Newcastle.

Both groups had "heavily rejected" the airport's latest pay offers, the union said.

However, they have agreed to pause industrial action for talks between the airport and Unite, which will be brokered by the conciliation service ACAS.

Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker said that despite the pause, union members had "a strong mandate for industrial action".

According to Unite, workers at LBA were paid less than those doing the same roles at Newcastle Airport, despite both sites being part owned by the same Spanish parent company, AENA.

The union said a starter air traffic controller at LBA earned about £34,000, while the same role at Newcastle was paid £55,000.

Whittaker added: "Should these negotiations not lead to an improved deal that is acceptable to our members, we will not hesitate to announce strike action which will have a major impact on the airport."

A spokesperson for LBA welcomed the latest strike suspension, adding it had provided "reassurance for thousands of passengers travelling" during the school holiday period.

They added: "A revised pay offer remains on the table for both our air traffic controllers and our hourly paid colleagues, and both Unite and LBA agree that ACAS support will be helpful to progress the discussions and it is anticipated that process will commence in the coming days."

Airport bosses said that with all planned strike action now withdrawn, no disruption was expected to services.

A previous round of planned strikes by air traffic controllers was also suspended following a late offer from the airport.

Workers had been due to walk out from 16 October but that was suspended to allow them to be balloted on a new offer. However that offer was also rejected, paving the way for the fresh round of talks.

In a previous statement, the airport said it had made a "fair and responsible offer that is significantly above inflation".

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