Prospect calls on MPs to reject compulsory ID cards for airside workers

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Prospect calls on MPs to reject compulsory ID cards for airside workers

On the day that Manchester is named as the first city to introduce a voluntary ID card scheme, Prospect has written to all MPs asking them to reject government plans to make ID cards compulsory for airside workers



The union, which represents over 4,000 air traffic controllers, engineers and other specialists working within aviation, said that despite raising its concerns with ministers and their officials, the government seems determined to push ahead with compulsory ID cards for airside workers.

Garry Graham, Prospect National Secretary for Aviation, said: “Aviation safety and security is at the heart of what our members do and is always the number one priority. The proposals put forward by the government add nothing to safety or security and we remain perplexed as to why the government remains determined to pursue this initiative.

“Our members in air traffic control are already subject to the very highest levels of security checking and vetting. Despite this, the government appears intent on using aviation workers as guinea pigs to legitimise the introduction of compulsory ID cards before they are rolled out for the rest of the population. We believe these proposals have more to do with seeking to grab news headlines than a cool and calm appraisal of any steps that need to be taken to enhance aviation safety and security.”

Prospect has written to all MPs to highlight members’ concerns in order that the proposed secondary legislation is subject to rigorous scrutiny and debate.

“At a time when public finances are under severe pressure and there is little public support for the principle of the introduction of compulsory ID cards, it is quite wrong for the government to carry on regardless in relation to this initiative,” said Graham.