Aer Lingus ground-handling staff at London's Heathrow airport are threatening strike action over the terms offered for their transfer to Swissair subsidiary, Swissport. Aer Lingus is scheduled to complete the sale of the business to Swissport on November 1st. The company has declined to disclose the sale proceeds.

At a meeting in London on Monday, ground staff, who are members of the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), voted to hold a ballot on strike action. This should be conducted within 14 days. If the workers vote for a strike the company must have 28 days' notice, which would bring any action close to the Christmas season.

Aer Lingus, which said yesterday it had not yet received notification of a ballot, has 930 staff at Heathrow but plans to keep on only 50 to 60 specialised ticketing staff.

Most of the existing ground staff will have the option to transfer to Swissport. Between voluntary redundancies and possible transfers to Dublin, up to 40 staff will leave Heathrow.

Negotiations on the transfer of business to Swissport have been going on for some time.

In April, the authorities at Heathrow opened up the ground-handling operations to competition. At that time, Aer Lingus decided to sell the operation or seek a joint venture partner because it was believed the airline could not compete against specialist handling operations with low cost bases.

After examining several proposals the firm is now in exclusive negotiations to sell the business to Swissport, a spokesman said.

Following negotiations with the TGWU, employees received letters last week outlining the company's final offer. Employees contend that existing terms and conditions for workers who opt to transfer to Swissport are guaranteed for only 90 days. According to Aer Lingus, the employees will transfer at the current terms and conditions for an indefinite period and any future changes could be made only through negotiated agreement.

Payments to staff who opt to transfer range from 4 per cent of salary plus £500 to a maximum of £19,000 on the basis of service. On the 25 positions available in Dublin, employees say they are not being offered their current pay or conditions, that no assistance with the transfer is on offer and that they would have to be in Dublin by November 1st.