Strike ballot endorses action over management dismissal of union representative

Union to consult members on specific form of the industrial action that will be taken

September 28th: Confirming that Unite members working for Swissport in Belfast City Airport have voted for strike action, Unite Regional Officer, George Brash said:

“This is a clear vote in favour of strike action. Sixty percent of our membership in the airport voted for strike action in a secret ballot conducted over the past weeks. This ballot was taken across all our members in the airport and we would anticipate that the strength of the vote would have been even stronger if we had taken it among the baggage handlers alone.

“Workers are determined to defend their Unite the union-rep who was dismissed by management as part of a sustained campaign targeting him for his trade union activities.

“Our representative has faced continued hostility from management up to and including inequitable treatment by comparison with co-workers on several occasions.

“The members, Unite in Northern Ireland and our UK-wide National Negotiating Committee are unequivocal in our support for this member. The actions of Swissport management are indefensible.

“The right to collective organisation and active membership of a trade union is a fundamental human right. Our union will not sit back and watch as one of our members is targeted in this way. In our unity, there is strength.

“In the coming days I will be meeting with the workforce to confirm the form and nature of the industrial action we will be taking. We are urging Swissport management to intervene and resolve this matter in these coming days so as to avoid the disruption that would result from industrial action at Belfast City Airport”, Mr Brash finished.