Airport faces Christmas strike in pension row

A leading British regional airport faces a “crippling” strike over Christmas in a row over pensions, union leaders warned today.

Amicus announced it was balloting its members at Birmingham Airport for industrial action to defend their final salary pension scheme.

Union officials said workers, including ground staff and members of the airport’s fire service, will vote over the next few weeks as part of a campaign against the planned closure of the final salary pension scheme to new members.

Regional officer Peter Coulson said: “We have no alternative but to ballot for strike action. The union has spent two years negotiating with the company to no avail.

“Birmingham Airport faces shutdown over Christmas unless the company stops playing Scrooge with hundreds of staff who will face many uncertain Christmases in retirement.

“We hope that the spectre of Christmas holiday shutdown will persuade the company to keep the final scheme open.”