Airport strikes called off

Strikes which threatened to cause widespread flight chaos at Heathrow and Gatwick over the holiday period were called off today.

Other airports where the strike threat has been lifted are Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

After a marathon 11-hour session, the Transport & General Workers union, representing airport firefighters, security guards and maintenance workers, thrashed out a deal with owner BAA.

T&G leader Bill Morris described the settlement, worth nearly eight per cent, as "a good deal - better than the going rate". He said he was confident there "will be no industrial action for the foreseeable future".

Meanwhile, leaders of the Fire Brigades Union are meeting today to decide the next step in their continuing dispute.

An eight-day strike is due to begin on Monday, the same time as Sir George Bain publishes his review into industry pay and conditions. The FBU will consider postponing the start of the strike to allow fresh talks following publication of the review.