"I'm here to support the union and fight for what's right," said one baggage screener, who asked that her name not be used. Another said she was here "to keep the roof over the head of my children--at the end of the day it's my house that could go." This 34-year-old woman had worked at Manchester Airport for 14 years. Her children, like most participants in the demonstration, were wearing high visibility vests, making the demonstration appear like a sea of yellow that surged through the streets.

The 36-hour strike had been preceded by one- and two-hour stoppages between February 4 and 16. According to a TGWU leaflet distributed at the rally, airport bosses are trying to impose new contracts that will cut up to 590 jobs, reduce pay by 40 percent, increase the workweek from 38 to 42 hours, and eliminate seven paid holidays per year. Meanwhile, union officials speaking at the rally placed emphasis on the threat to "airport security" posed by the bosses' attacks on jobs.

The marchers held official banners of the TGWU north-west region and TGWU Women Workers. There was also a banner from ICL computer workers, and a homemade banner that said, "Students support the airport strike." Printed placards called for "passenger safety before airport profit." A union spokesperson said the airport made £53 million (US$79.5 million) in profit last year.

Also on the demonstration with their banner were 12 locked-out TGWU members at Friction Dynamics in north Wales who had traveled to Manchester to show their solidarity with the airport workers. They were greeted with loud applause when one of the speakers at the rally pointed them out.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home