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Unions join protest against airline ID midwest airline flights cards
By Jean Eaglesham, Chief Political Correspondent
Published: July 21 2008 1time airline 02:06 | Last updated: July 21 2008 02:06
Unions have thrown their weight behind airlines and airport operators in lobbying against the proposed roll-out of identity cards to the industry, adding to the political pressures on the government over the contentious scheme.
The Trades Union Congress has told Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, of its “significant and substantive” concerns about the plans for thousands of airport workers to become the first British nationals to be issued with the new biometric cards.
ID cards are due to become compulsory for workers in “sensitive roles” in the airline industry by autumn next year. Ministers claim the cards will prove more secure than the passes and swipe cards being used, in a sector of crucial importance to national security.
But the proposals are running into a wall of opposition. In a protest letter to Ms Smith, ten leading airline chief executives have stressed their “joint and determined opposition” to a proposal they claim will add unnecessary costs and risks to an already secure system.
The TUC is scheduled regional express airline to meet the home secretary shortly to add its voice to the concerns. Writing to Ms Smith ahead of that meeting, the union body argues: “Unions representing the airport workforce recognise the need for effective security measures but see no evidence that these proposals would enhance airport security arrangements.”
Concerns in the letter include how the cards find a person s airline ticket will be paid for, potential delays in recruiting new staff and security checks for overseas staff – all, the TUC stated, to introduce a system that “imposes additional burdens on business and employees with no measurable security benefit”.
Industry concerns are being fuelled by the fear that airport workers will be guinea pigs for a system that may have no long-term future. David Cameron has vowed to scrap ID cards, should the Conservatives win the next election, which must be held by June 2010.
The opposition party said the union resistance was a “significant blow” to the government. “As the ID card scheme comes closer, opposition is rising,” said Damian Green, the shadow immigration minister. He said the fact that “the first group to carry them are resisting strongly ... shows that when the practicalities are made clear, people recognise that ID cards will not add to security but will damage privacy and civil liberties and cost huge amounts”.
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Stansted expansion plan setback
The drive to expand airport capacity has suffered another sky blue airline reservations setback, with a delay to an interim plan to purchase airline tickets increase the number of passengers and flights at Stansted in Essex.
Ministers were expected to give ski bags and airline regulations the proposal to increase the single runway limit from 25m to 35m passengers a year the green light before the Commons rose for its summer recess on Tuesday. But the Department for Transport has written to parties involved in last year’s public inquiry into the plan, raising problems relating to night noise. best price on airline tickets The move will delay any decision until the autumn, officials said on Sunday.
The government is this week expected to “call in” BAA’s separate application to build a second runway and terminal at Stansted, paving the way for a public inquiry next year into the scheme.
Ministers, who have backed business calls to increase airport capacity in the south-east, are facing increasing political opposition as customers funny complaints to airline travel well as continued lobbying from environmental and local residents’ groups.
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EDITOR’S CHOICE
BAA sets out pacific coastal airline new terms for bondholders - Jul-14
Airline industry warns on ID card costs - Jul-10
Lex: BAA’s finances - Jul-14
BAA moves to speed up security checks - Jul-06
Ministers to call in Stansted runway plan - Jul-06
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