Heathrow workers are to be balloted on strike action to start after Christmas.

The Unite union has sent out ballot papers to 5,000 airport firefighters, security, maintenance and clerical staff at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted in a dispute over BAA's plans to close its final salary pension scheme to new workers.

Unite's national secretary for air transport Brendan Gold said the result would be declared on December 20.

With the union required to give seven days' notice before any strike, the earliest workers are expected to walk out is December 27.

Mr Gold said: "BAA has made a big contribution to the profits of its Spanish parent Ferrovial our members are saying spend some of that money here on pensions or face the consequences.

"BAA is profitable, Ferrovial is profitable.

"They count their money in billions of pounds.

"They can afford to keep the pension scheme open."

Mr Gold said the future of the whole final salary scheme was now in jeopardy.

But BAA says the strike is unnecessary and the changes only affect pensions for new workers.

A spokesman for the company said: "BAA regrets the union's threat of industrial action, particularly in the Christmas period.

"It is unnecessary and it fails to put the interests of passengers first.

"BAA has given clear and unequivocal assurances that existing employees will not be affected by the end of the final salary pension scheme and that its replacement for new employees will be of the highest quality.

"During the past few weeks we have offered to give more detailed assurances to union representatives. We believe the way to resolve this is through negotiation.

"Using the threat of industrial action, particularly at Christmas, can only create uncertainty for our passengers and their families, and will do nothing to change the underlying reasons that have led BAA to follow the example of most other leading companies in addressing the pension problem in the way we have.

"BAA believes that now is the time to talk."

  • Do you think the strike action by workers concerned about their pensions is warranted? Or is traveling around Christmas tough enough without industrial strife? Let us know in the comments section below.