Heathrow Express workers to strike

Workers on Heathrow Express are to stage three 24-hour strikes next month in a dispute over union recognition, the train firm announced today.

Members of Aslef will walkout on October 3, 10 and 12, threatening to disrupt the direct rail link between central London and Heathrow airport, which is used by 14,000 passengers every day.

British Airports Authority, which owns the link, said it would operate a "high quality" service on strike days.

Aslef represents just over 100 workers, mainly drivers, on the Heathrow Express, out of a total workforce of 236.

The company said workers had made it clear they wanted representation to be shared between Aslef and a staff association, but Aslef was insisting on sole recognition rights.

A BAA spokesman said just 41 Aslef members had voted for industrial action.

"We are working on contingency plans but we intend to run as full a service as possible."

The Paddington-Heathrow service, launched just over five years ago, has never been hit by industrial action.