12 October 2007
The Transport and General Workers' Union has issued the
following press release:
"Unions to fight BAA pension cuts
Union leaders representing thousands of airport workers at BAA
today [Wednesday] told the company's chief executive, Stephen
Nelson, that they will fight plans to change the final salary
pension scheme.
National officers from Unite, PCS and Prospect met Mr Nelson
this morning. They made clear their unified opposition to the
proposed changes which will see the final salary pension scheme
closed to new entrants from 1st December 2007.
Mr Nelson was told very clearly and in very direct terms that
BAA's decision had no financial foundation. The unions said the
scheme was healthy and that changes must, therefore, be a cost
cutting measure at the workforce's expense.
Brendan Gold, Unite national secretary for civil air transport,
who chaired the union side of the meeting said: "The unions are not
prepared to accept a reduction in BAA's pension provision. We told
the chief executive that the company's decision is unacceptable.
Unions will mount a vigorous campaign industrially, politically and
publicly to ensure this decision is reversed."
Ben Middleton, Prospect national officer, said: "The decision to
close the scheme is a fundamental breach of trust and confidence
which will be damaging to industrial relations in BAA." "
