Cleaners at Manchester Airport to begin strike action

Cleaners working for Initial Air Services at Manchester Airport will strike for three days next week after the company refused further talks with the the cleaners' union - Unite - to try to resolve the dispute over pay.

Manchester-based workers at Initial are planning continuous strike action from 6.00 am on Thursday 17th July until 6.00 am Sunday 20th July following the company's decision to impose a 2% pay offer previously rejected by workers. Union members voted overwhelmingly for strike action by 94.6% to 5.4% last month. Unite is urging Initial management to resume talks with the Union in a final attempt to settle the dispute and avoid industrial action.

Unite Organiser, Sharon Cowell said: "We are extremely disappointed that Initial are making no effort to talk to us to move things forward despite attempts by ACAS to conciliate this dispute. The company's failure to intervene in this dispute means that our members have no alternative other than to go ahead with strike action.

"This dispute could be resolved if the company returns to the table with a reasonable pay offer in a bid to resolve the dispute."

Unite members are planning further industrial action on 22nd, 23rd and 24th July unless the dispute over pay can be resolved.

10th July 2008