Parliamentary Briefing

Aviation Security

 

GMB has asubstantial number of members working in the UK's major and regionalairports. They include aviationsecurity workers whose jobs have been affected by recent events and theconsequent sharper focus on airport security. Issues related to theiremployment conditions have important repercussions for public safety andconfidence in air travel.


In the Westminster Hall debate on 23rdOctober 2001 issues were raised regarding the security clearance of staffworking in airports in general and contracted security staff at Heathrow inparticular.

 

Current regulations permit security staff to work in sensitive security posts withouthaving received counter-terrorist clearance (CTC) if they are working under thesupervision of an individual who has passed through the CTC checks. This has highlighted a loophole that will beexamined as part of the forthcoming security review.

 

But theworking conditions of staff in contract security roles at airports also need tobe addressed.

 

The Department of Transport Local Government and theRegions (DTLR) regulates airport security through the Department of TransportSecurity (TRANSEC). TRANSEC regulatesand inspects airport screening staff.Inspectors ensure that screeners operate for only 20 minutes at a time,with a 40 minute break between periods, buttheir remit does not cover the screeners' working hours orconditions.

 

This raisesthe important issue of the exclusion ofnon-mobile transport workers from the Working Time Regulations until June 2003.

 

Contracted airport security workers, in anoccupation where concentration is absolutely vital, have to work long days, with consequent effects uponthe way they function. In common withother static airport workers, including cleaners and catering workers, they donot have any entitlement to limits on working hours or paid holidays, apartfrom contractual entitlement. They arealso poorly paid, and many only obtain a living wage by working longhours.

 

 

The UK airport contract security companies want towait for the Regulations to come into force before addressing the issue ofworking hours. But given the tremendousimportance now being placed on airport security it is not acceptable to waitfor another two and a half years to address this important issue.

 

The USA is now acting to raise standards of airlineand airport security there. Although in the United Kingdom, aviation securityis more comprehensively regulated, and has a better reputation, this is beingundermined by the exclusion of aviation security workers from legal rights tosafe working hours and holiday entitlement.

 

It is simply not acceptable, in the interests of theemployees or the public for this situation to continue. At a time when we need to rebuild confidencein air travel, this issue must be addressed as a priority.

 

 

The GMB is pressing the Government to take urgentsteps to bring forward the implementation of working time regulations fornon-mobile air transport workers as early as is possible.