Back Heathrow's third runway and safeguard over 200,000 jobs, urges
Unite
12 January 2009
The UK's leading union is urging the Government to give the
green light to the construction of a third runway at Heathrow
airport.
The call comes today (Monday) amid mounting frustration that the
go-ahead to modernise Heathrow, the UK's only international hub
airport, has been delayed. Unite is concerned that every day
of delay further damages Heathrow's reputation as a world class
airport and leaves 172,000 workers uncertain about their
future.
Modernisation of Heathrow, however, would not only safeguard
these jobs but create an additional 50,000 other jobs in
construction and services says Unite, providing much-needed
employment opportunities during the recession.
As Unite steps up its campaign to "set the record straight"
about Heathrow expansion, part of which will see Unite members who
work at the airport address Parliamentarians (Wednesday,
January, 14th), joint general secretary Derek Simpson said:
"There can be no further delay in the modernisation of Heathrow,
the UK's only international hub airport. Heathrow should be
the jewel in our crown but it is falling behind world class
standards.
"We know that the expansion of Heathrow is not an easy decision.
People are concerned for the environment and their quality of life.
But we sincerely believe that Heathrow's modernisation is the only
way to reduce aircraft emissions and cut disruption."
"Only modernisation at Heathrow will keep Britain on the global
transport map and stop our cities and industries losing out to our
competitors in Europe. Now of all times we need to seize the
opportunities to create more jobs and preserve this country's
status as a world-leading economy. We cannot hope to achieve
either if we choke-off investment in Heathrow and turn our leading
airport into a museum piece."
Unite is also concerned that a mistaken view is being allowed to
take hold that a high speed rail link between UK cities is a
realistic alternative to a third runway at the airport.
According to Derek Simpson: "Of course the UK needs a high speed
rail link between our major cities and airports but this alone is
not the answer to passenger congestion. We must be realistic -
however high speed it may be, a rail link can only absorb a tiny
fraction of those travellers who want an alternative way to connect
to our cities.
"The UK's economy, workers and passengers need our Government to
look to our future. Unite says grasp this once in a lifetime
opportunity to secure the UK's biggest world class airport and give
the green light for the third runway. This will support jobs now
and create work for tens of thousands of workers hit hard by this
recession."
For more information about Unite's Backing
Heathrow campaign click here
ENDS
For further information, please call Pauline Doyle on 07976 832
861.
