Liverpool John Lennon Airport airport bosses last night insisted they were ready to cope with the huge Christmas rush - despite the prospect of staff strikes blighting the festive period.
With 190,000 passengers set to go through LPL over the next fortnight, baggage handlers remain deadlocked with management over threatened redundancies.
Currently, Servisair employees are conducting discontinuous industrial action every Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and Monday, for two hours each morning and afternoon.
It comes as the Daily Post can reveal today that a fresh offer from Servisair management has been made to the GMB union in an attempt to break the deadlock. The Runcorn-based company has put forward a plan to effectively reduce the compulsory redundancies from 37 to around 25, with a mixture of full-time and part-time staff working on the ramp. That new proposal will be voted on by GMB members today. But the Post understands it is unlikely to find favour with employees who argue any compulsory job losses are unnecessary.
If the stalemate remains, the GMB are ready to enter the exceptionally busy Christmas period with continued picket lines. Robin Tudor, spokesman for Liverpool John Lennon Airport, said they had received assurances from Servisair that contingency plans, involving staff from other UK bases working in Liverpool, would meet any shortfall. Mr Tudor said: "There have been some delays during the strike, but nothing significant. "Servisair has been true to their word regarding the cover. We would urge both parties to resolve their differences ahead of what will be a busy period."
The dispute centres upon a move, in GMB's words, to make staff more multi-skilled to cover wider-ranging duties and so allowing for a reduction of posts. Baggage handlers remain angered by a controversial move by management to dock them a full day's wages on days when they walk out for half a shift's work.
Last night a Servisair spokesman remained hopeful, and said: "We're delighted GMB members are taking a look at the new offer and we hope they consider it acceptable."
Last Friday, the break-up of schools sparked a surge in departures at Liverpool airport with ski destinations including Salzburg, Innsbruck, Lyon and Grenoble popular, and warmer climes like the Canary Islands and southern Spain reporting healthy bookings. Mediators from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) joined the discussions on Friday and Monday, and while last week's gathering failed to progress matters, yesterday's debate appeared more encouraging.
The GMB, however, said they remained frustrated by Servisair's refusal to show their financial accounts for Liverpool airport to justify compulsory redundancies were necessary. If figures supported such a move, the union added, they would accept the cuts. Eddie Parker, regional secretary, said the extra labour brought in by the baggage handling management was 'excessive' and would end up costing the company too much money. The issue of partial performance pay, meanwhile, still rankles, as Servisair recently decided to not allow strikers to work on days they were picketing for two hours in a morning and afternoon. That reduction is set to be made from employees' pay packets this Friday.
A tactic by Servisair to ban the airside passes of strikers was rejected by airport bosses. As both sides remain at loggerheads, Liverpool airport has maintained a neutral stance, and suggested passengers arrive in Speke with plenty of time to spare.
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