News 33
Unions join in
runway fight
G
REEN campaigners elsewhere north of London.
received a boost in Ministers have given the
efforts against a third green light for BAA to
runway at Heathrow airport increase passenger numbers
after six trade unions broke at Stanstead Airport from 25
ranks to oppose the move. million to 35 million a year.
Aslef, Unison, TSSA, PCS, That will see the number of
Connect and the RMT – flights increase from 241,000
representing some 1.3million to 264,000 a year following
members – unveiled their a ruling by new Transport
opposition in a full-page Secretary Geoff Hoon.
newspaper advert. Both Friends of the Earth
They had previously hoped and Greenpeace, along with
such expansion would lead local objectors, criticised the
to greater job security and move claiming the
local economic benefits, but Government was promoting
appear to have been swayed a “binge-flying” culture.
by the environmental However Stanstead’s
arguments. managing director Stewart
However environmentalists Wingate described the
have suffered a set-back decision as “great news”.
in another battle against
the proposed expansion of Click Source: (Heathrow)
passenger numbers Click Source: (Stanstead)
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