wild cat strike
nobody in particular | 19.07.2003 10:37 | Social Struggles | London
BA cancel more flights
Many passengers spent the night at the terminal
British Airways' passengers face further chaos on Saturday following an unofficial staff walkout at Heathrow Airport. More than 10,000 passengers were affected on Friday after 80 inward and outbound flights to domestic and European destinations were cancelled.
Many passengers spent the night at the terminal
British Airways' passengers face further chaos on Saturday following an unofficial staff walkout at Heathrow Airport. More than 10,000 passengers were affected on Friday after 80 inward and outbound flights to domestic and European destinations were cancelled.
Travellers faced even more disruption on Saturday after BA cancelled domestic and European services flights from Terminal One up until 1500 BST. It had hoped to resume services by 1000 BST.
More cancellations could be made at other terminals as BA say check-in staff do not appear to have returned from their rest break.
Passengers have criticised BA's response to the industrial action, saying no staff are on hand to help those stranded causing "human gridlock".
System worries
John Pritchard, who had been due to fly to Geneva, told BBC News Online frustrated passengers had started to throw punches and police had stepped in to calm things down.
"It is chaos, there is no BA staff around at all," he said
"All check-in desks have been closed and all electronic check-in machines have been switched off. It is human gridlock."
The unofficial strike by 250 ticket and baggage handling staff began at 1600 BST, forcing BA to cancel flights from Terminal One. Staff also stopped work in Terminal Four.
Hundreds of passengers, unable to find hotel accommodation, spent Friday night in the terminal.
About 2,000 passengers hoping to travel between Scotland and London were stranded overnight, and a third of flights to the capital from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen were cancelled on Saturday.
The airline decided to cancel flights on Saturday as it did not know how many staff would turn up for work, BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds says.
More than 10,000 passengers were affected by the strike
The company said it was unable to say how long delays would be for passengers.
The workers were protesting against a new swipe card entry system, called Automated Time Recording, which allows managers to monitor their working hours.
It is understood staff are worried that the system, due to be introduced on Tuesday, could lead to staff being sent home during quiet periods.
BA denied this, and said swipe cards had already been in use in some parts of its Heathrow operations for three years.
The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) - which represents some BA staff - confirmed that the strike was unofficial, as the move had not been put to the vote by its members.
BA advised all passengers due to fly on Saturday to check with BA.com before setting out.
It has also set up a special telephone line for passenger information, on 0800 727800.
this article was extracted from
More cancellations could be made at other terminals as BA say check-in staff do not appear to have returned from their rest break.
Passengers have criticised BA's response to the industrial action, saying no staff are on hand to help those stranded causing "human gridlock".
System worries
John Pritchard, who had been due to fly to Geneva, told BBC News Online frustrated passengers had started to throw punches and police had stepped in to calm things down.
"It is chaos, there is no BA staff around at all," he said
"All check-in desks have been closed and all electronic check-in machines have been switched off. It is human gridlock."
The unofficial strike by 250 ticket and baggage handling staff began at 1600 BST, forcing BA to cancel flights from Terminal One. Staff also stopped work in Terminal Four.
Hundreds of passengers, unable to find hotel accommodation, spent Friday night in the terminal.
About 2,000 passengers hoping to travel between Scotland and London were stranded overnight, and a third of flights to the capital from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen were cancelled on Saturday.
The airline decided to cancel flights on Saturday as it did not know how many staff would turn up for work, BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds says.
More than 10,000 passengers were affected by the strike
The company said it was unable to say how long delays would be for passengers.
The workers were protesting against a new swipe card entry system, called Automated Time Recording, which allows managers to monitor their working hours.
It is understood staff are worried that the system, due to be introduced on Tuesday, could lead to staff being sent home during quiet periods.
BA denied this, and said swipe cards had already been in use in some parts of its Heathrow operations for three years.
The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) - which represents some BA staff - confirmed that the strike was unofficial, as the move had not been put to the vote by its members.
BA advised all passengers due to fly on Saturday to check with BA.com before setting out.
It has also set up a special telephone line for passenger information, on 0800 727800.
this article was extracted from
nobody in particular
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