Unite backing Heathrow Expansion
bill shutt | 29.01.2009 19:46 | Climate Chaos | Workers' Movements
Unite the union claim, Heathrow expansion is not detrimental to the environment. They claim the challenge is to expand without additional greenhouse gas emissions. Unite state that by placing an environmental cap on flights into Heathrow it forces the industry to invest in cleaner and quieter aircraft, the benefits of which go beyond UK airspace. They also say that the Heathrow expansion during Phase I of development means reducing stacking and queuing on the runways which could save an estimated 330,000 tonnes of CO2.
We need jobs and futures, Heathrow workers tell Tories
28/01/2009
Unite the union, the biggest union in UK civil aviation, is urging MPs to vote for workers' jobs and futures by backing the modernisation of Heathrow airport. Unite's call comes ahead of today's (Wednesday) Tory Opposition Day debate in the Commons, which the union says will be used to undermine this month's decision by the government to press ahead with the third runway at Heathrow airport. Workers from Heathrow and airports across the UK have been contacting MPs to impress upon them the importance of the third runway to the entire UK aviation sector.
Steve Turner, Unite national secretary for civil aviation, said: "Our members, the workers at Heathrow and their families, are angry that the Tories are playing point-scoring games with their futures.
"What the hundreds of thousands of workers employed in the UK civil aviation industry need to know is that our political parties are grown up enough to recognise that aviation is a strategically vital industry. This means getting behind the industry to ensure it can operate in the most environmentally efficient way, that it can develop to provide the services business and passengers want, and that it can keep thousands of people in employment. "
Brian Boyd, Unite national officer for civil aviation, added: "Unite is not oblivious to the issues concerning the environment or the displacement of individuals. We have always acknowledged opposition, and continue to approach this important issue in a practical manner.
"However, the Tories are adopting a position of hypocrisy. Added to this, the proposals from the London Mayor in relation to the creation of Boris Island sited somewhere in the Thames are complete nonsense. His own party are quietly distancing themselves from him."
ENDS
Unite's representatives will be meeting with MPs ahead of the present, and available for interview at on the pavement area opposite Carriage Gates, directly in front of the Parliament Square grass area (where the permanent demonstration is) from 10.30am until 11.30am on Wednesday, January 28th.
28/01/2009
Unite the union, the biggest union in UK civil aviation, is urging MPs to vote for workers' jobs and futures by backing the modernisation of Heathrow airport. Unite's call comes ahead of today's (Wednesday) Tory Opposition Day debate in the Commons, which the union says will be used to undermine this month's decision by the government to press ahead with the third runway at Heathrow airport. Workers from Heathrow and airports across the UK have been contacting MPs to impress upon them the importance of the third runway to the entire UK aviation sector.
Steve Turner, Unite national secretary for civil aviation, said: "Our members, the workers at Heathrow and their families, are angry that the Tories are playing point-scoring games with their futures.
"What the hundreds of thousands of workers employed in the UK civil aviation industry need to know is that our political parties are grown up enough to recognise that aviation is a strategically vital industry. This means getting behind the industry to ensure it can operate in the most environmentally efficient way, that it can develop to provide the services business and passengers want, and that it can keep thousands of people in employment. "
Brian Boyd, Unite national officer for civil aviation, added: "Unite is not oblivious to the issues concerning the environment or the displacement of individuals. We have always acknowledged opposition, and continue to approach this important issue in a practical manner.
"However, the Tories are adopting a position of hypocrisy. Added to this, the proposals from the London Mayor in relation to the creation of Boris Island sited somewhere in the Thames are complete nonsense. His own party are quietly distancing themselves from him."
ENDS
Unite's representatives will be meeting with MPs ahead of the present, and available for interview at on the pavement area opposite Carriage Gates, directly in front of the Parliament Square grass area (where the permanent demonstration is) from 10.30am until 11.30am on Wednesday, January 28th.
bill shutt
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billshutt@ntlworld.com
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