By DPA,
London : Strikes that threatened to paralyse air traffic in Britain at peak holiday time were averted late Monday after airport operator BAA and the union came to an agreement.
Details of the deal between BAA and union Unite would be made public Tuesday.
If the strikes had gone ahead, two of London’s main airports, Heathrow and Stansted, would have been affected, as well as Southampton and three Scottish airports – Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
BAA had said that those airports would have to be closed on strike days, as essential staff, including firefighters, would take part in walkouts.
Last week, Unite said almost 75 percent of around 3,000 members who voted in a ballot backed industrial action at Britain’s six leading airports, following a pay dispute with airport operator BAA.
The union staged a series of cabin crew strikes at British Airways earlier this year.