Problem Based Learning

The Problem: Industrial action - justified or not?

There are some jobs where the employees know they have considerable power. One such example is the case of safety workers at an airport. They are essential to the operation of the airport and flights cannot run if adequate cover is not provided, for health and safety reasons.

The trade union Amicus is supporting two workers at Birmingham Airport who work on airside safety that have been sacked for gross misconduct. The airport management claim that the two workers left work early on seven consecutive shifts but put in claims for full shifts. The difference in the time they worked and the time they claimed for was, according to the airport, a total of 55 hours. This represents fraud, hence the dismissal which was upheld after following through the normal disciplinary procedures of the company which included an appeal.

Airport delays - a source of frustration. © iStock.com

The Union claims that the workers did not commit the offences alleged and that the methods used by the airport that brought the matter to their attention - the use of surveillance cameras - breaches the workers' human rights and is also a contravention of the Data Protection Act 1998. Amicus intends to support the workers' claims for unfair dismissal.

200 staff at Birmingham International Airport plan to stage a series of one day strikes during November, December and January. The strikes, if they go ahead, will mean the airport will have difficulty functioning and this comes at one of the busiest times in the year.