BAA employees have every right to strike. I am shocked by previous comments on here such as 'withdrawal of final salary pension schemes is life' and 'withdrawing the right to strike'. BAA won't be the last aviation related company to strike next year over this issue, there is a much, much bigger storm brewing at the moment.

Andrew, London,

Why should existing employees strike over something that will not affect them. It is only going to affect future employees who have the right to decide to take the job or not. Stop bellyaching over something that does not concern you.

Michele, UK

Michele Franks, Holbeach St Johns, UK

These unreasonable jobsworths are holding the country to ransom. Almost none of the FTSE 100 companies offer final salary schemes to new members. The idea that this is the first step in closing the whole scheme is ludicrous and shows total ignorance of employment and contract law by the union leaders. Those striking will receive virtually no public support and the only reason politicians dare not speak out is due to their gold-plated cast-iron pension schemes. However, BAAs ownership of London airports needs to be broken up in order to introduce some much needed competition. One only needs to visit a random sample of continental airports to see how deficient ours have become.

Worst of all, these gits are going to jeopardise my hard-earned ski holiday!

C Park, London,

A pension is a right! Especially for airline workers in England who work for very low wages. Good for them. Stand up for your right to a retirement. Airline workers have very few benefits to begin with, it's only right they get their pension. You people in England will pay for every immigrant and their family of 20 to have free housing and complete welfare payments, but you'll deny people who WORK their pensions. Sick

Donna, TEXAS, TEXAS

I'm not flying in the near future, but some friends face the prospect of having a holiday to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary ruined.

I haven't the slightest sympathy with the strikers. In fact, as existing workers won't be affected, it's unbelievable. If you don't like the pay and conditions associated with your job, get a different one. If enough people leave, the employer will be forced to make improvements to attract staff back.

Barry, Wallington, UK

Final Salary pension schemes were introduced when the assumption was that people worked until they were 65 and then lived on to the ripe old age of 70. With life expectancy now at over 85 for men and women these schemes are no longer aforedable and that is why nearly all employers are closing them to new members. Also, young people prefer the transferability of their replacement; defined contribution schemes.

BAA staff are being taken out on strike over what is an inevitable change in pension provisions in the 21st century workplace.

R.Duncan, Guildford,

How can there be a " 2 to1" vote in favour, when only 60% voted and about 40% voted in favour. Unite - GET REAL, most companies already have done this but protected exisitng schemes. Holding the country to ransom is not good enough. Strikes shouldn't be banned, but over a matter like this it is pathetic. My company already has stopped new employees joining the final salry scheme, but we had no choice in the matter. I have NO sypmathy for you whatsoever. A company pension is a perk NOT a right.

andrew, twickenham, UK

Unite seems to be attempting to return to the petty-minded far-left petulance of 1970s trade unionism. I believe this disgraceful action is born out of the union's dislike for this particular employer so they have alighted upon this "issue" as a pretext to hit back. It is quite ridicuous that a union should go on strike in support of people who do not even work for BAA yet ! If BAA were proposing to close the final salary scheme to existing employees, I would have a lot more sympathy but they are not. Many companies have closed their final salary schemes for new employees - it's the way of the world thanks to government indolence over the past couple of decades. Unite need to move into the 21st century - if they really want to help employees, they should expend their considerable resources lobbying the government to get a grip on the pensions timebomb. Now that WOULD get public support !

Mel, London,

An absolute disgrace, what happens to people who have not seen loved ones for years and now they are not going to be able to see them in January

Frances Dunlop, Belfast, N.Ireland

I have no support for unite - our airports are already the worst run in the world with the worst staff all they are doing with the strike action is confirming this. As a member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces when our pension was changed we had no say in the matter, our only safeguard was that those already serving would not have their pension changed and those who now join up automatically go on the new scheme. The members of unite should be grateful the existing staff are keeping their pension and not strike

Concerned traveller , IPSWICH, ENGLAND

strike !!! try to explain that to the hundreds of men/women stuck out in the north sea on rigs/platforms looking forward to getting home to there family after working 2 or three weeks on a floating tin can ,stuff your strike where the sun dont shine

derek, durham,

Staff should be satisfied that their pensions are safe and let new starters look after their own pension arrangements. As long as existing employees pensions are safe, there will be no support from me! Companies who break existing pension promises, to existing workers deserve to face industrial action. Pensions have been hard won by trade unions in the past. I have to say to all those who complain about union action. Every working condition you've ever had has been hard won by trade unions. Many have dropped out of trade union membership in the past are being walked on now by employers. The only pensions that are not being hit now are those who have no union protection. GET BACK INTO YOUR UNIONS AND FIGHT TO RETAIN YOUR PENSION RIGHTS! Those who do not have union backing are loosing every day and eventually it will come round to you're turn!

RayB, Newcastle, UK

One is bound to say that the strike vote is odd. It really doesn’t take genius to understand that making a hash of millions of Christmas and New Year holidays is not an act calculated to engender sympathy from anyone. One wonders quite what the objective is; to demonise UNITE once and for all? It would be hard to find any action more likely to take the heat off of BAA than a strike.

Perhaps something a little more effective and humorous might prevail? Given the majority Ferrovial Shareholding perhaps everyone working, yet wearing a “Sink the Armada” Tee Shirt, might prove to be rather more effective? Anyone who has had to use Heathrow or the other BAA airports recently will agree with the urgent need for BAA to invest as they remember the misery of being herded cattle like through what could easily pass as the rather dilapidated set of an old Dr. Who set ( circa Patrick Troughton). On the other hand, if the strike goes ahead all I can see is public distain for the members of UNITE.

Dick Taylor, Bangkok,

Bloody unions.....they will be the death of this country. We can only hope another 'Maggie' will come our way to replace the crap governmental Yes boys we have in power now.

rob Finch, uckfield, east Sussex

My comapny closed its final salary scheme to new members, then closed it all together. We just had to accept it could no longer afford it and carry on. There are plenty of other companies to work for if you don't like BAA.

Luke, London, UK

I would not worry too much over the strike action, if Brenden Gold has anything to do with negoiations he will probably accept BAA proposals at the final hour and claim its a good deal for all concerned, just like he did for the British Airways staff in the regions who no longer work for BA, Merry Christmas Brenden!!!!!

The Edinburgh Pilgrim, Edinburgh,

I would have some sympathy if this protest were about their own pensions. The fact is that the change in the pension scheme is to affect new employees. Surely the fact that no new entrants are going to be allowed to enter the scheme protects the interests of current employees who are in the final salary scheme ?

Dan, London, UK

I have no sympathy at all with strikers who disrupt the paying public who have booked hard-earned holidays. They should negotiate with their employers like adults instead of throwing childish tantrums. At the end of the day if they don't like their terms and conditions they can find another job like anyone else.

John, London,

It is totally unacceptable for people to strike - it reminds me of my 2 year old child who refuses to do anything when she doesn't get what she wants.
I am due to travel back from Austria on 17th January with my 2 year old and 7 month old. I have husband who needs to get back for work, will have to pay for 2 more nights accomodation (if we can even get on a plane after the strike) and 2 children who have probably run out of their special food, formula, etc... Do I now try to leave Austria a day early which will cost me money to change my flight; nevermind, shortening a long awaited holiday?
Since the alterations to the pension provisions only effect new employees then don't apply for a job if you don't like the terms. For the current employees leave your job if you don't like your employeers - there a plenty of people who need jobs and will be even more when the UK economy goes thru a recession.
The socialist mind set of workers in the UK is uncompetitive.

Aimee, Oxford,

No support from me either. On one of the strike days I was scheduled to take my son to China as a 21st birthday present. We MIGHT be able to reschedule, but with work commitments that is far from certain. Thank you to all the Neanderthals who have (unless they settle this quickly) wrecked a holiday he has been looking forward to for months, not to mention the possible financial loss.

Mike, Sutton,

No support for BAA employees here - that's my holiday to Australia ruined. I had planned to take my family who happen to be travelling at a later date, so although I might be able to reschedule, they can't.

My company also stopped final salary pensions to new employees and did we strike? No we didn't. That would have meant that customers of my company wouldn't have access to their accounts.

Most companies can't afford final salary pensions any more and new employees rarely expect them. How dare BAA employees ruin a holiday I've had planned for months! Maybe someone should put their holidays in jeopardy and see how they like it!

david, edinburgh, scotland

.A strike vote should please all the global warming fanatics and pressure should be brought by all environmentalist groups to continue the strike indefinitely.

Cromwell, Leeds, ENGLAND

Steve Ridgway, as you well know Unite are there as a union to represent the members of the union, and it is the members (your cabin crew) who have decided not to accept the offer that the union has put to them on behalf of VAA.

It is a shame that VAA have come to this, but the fun has pretty well gone from working for the airline, and tribe card discounts do not pay the mortgage.

John, Crawley, Sussex

Many Companies have stopped final salaried pension, including the one I work for. Unfortunatley it is life. Striking over Christmas and New Year will only turn the support they do have sour.

Dawn , Chatham, Kent

I am not going on holiday this year. But I think these people who strike constantly at the businest time of the year and cause so much disruption should be able to be dismissed. Not only does such chaos cause a feeling of haphazardness whjich is phsycologically bad and could be the cause of aircraft accidents through lack of service and a general feeling of madness that follows it. Aircraft are highly technical machines that need no let down in the staff attitude.

John, Camberley, UK

The right to strike is a blunt, and selfish, weapon; perhaps it should be banned/replaced?
The only people really to suffer from a strike are the paying punters who need to use the services of the strike-bound company... yes, striking employees receive little or no money during their withdrawal of labour, but on their own head be it...

A solution: Withdraw the right to strike... replace it with the following process: in case of dispute, as now, ballot members on the need for 'action'; if the vote is for 'action' to be taken, such 'action' should only comprise ALL members of the affected company immediately ceasing to receive salary until the matter is resolved... that keeps the dispute where it belongs, WITHIN the confines of the company where management and workforce are at odds... services to the paying public are unaffected. Withdrawal of salary from both sides of the dispute would focus some minds, I'll warrant!

Brian, Montpellier, France