Manchester Airport Workers Strike

A strike of the work force has hit Manchester airport quite hard. One of the worlds largest cleaning company MITIE have voted in favour of strike action which has taken place this morning starting at 6am. You may think that cleaners aren’t an essential part of what goes on at Manchester airport but you would be wrong, millions of people pass through the airport on a yearly basis leaving behind a lot of mess without cleaners the system would begin to deteriorate as less and less people would use an “unclean” airport.

The cleaning staff have gone on strike due to proposals to cut their paid working hour in half whilst they are also trying to fight proposals to cut their £20-a-month attendance bonus which would result in each worker losing a total of about £70 per month which doesn’t seem like a lot but when you take it from the cleaners already low wages then its quite a significant amount. The staff at Manchester are attempting to urge MITIE leaders to meet the union in regards to the proposals and strike them a deal as they want to get this issue resolved. Manchester airport claim they have contingency plans in plans to cope with the strike action but the issue between MITIE workers and airport representatives is unresolved with some claiming the airport is “attacking their livelihood”.

Around 100 MITIE and Manchester airport cleaning staff will stand on the picket line just outside terminals one, two and three for 24 hours starting today at 6am. One thing is certainly for sure, Manchester airport need to resolve this issue and fast as their “contingency plans” don’t seem a stable option for that long and without solving the issue with the staff Manchester could see its recent award of best airport in Britain compromised.