Fundamental to prosperity

Unite has called on MPs to support a third runway being built at Heathrow Airport, highlighting the project’s fundamental importance to “securing our country’s long-term economic prosperity”.

 
A decision on the Heathrow runway was expected to be made by the government within days, but the BBC reported yesterday (December 7) that another review may delay the decision for an additional six months.

 
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey pointed to recommendations from the Airports Commission made earlier this year as evidence that Heathrow should be expanded.

 
“The commission presented the robust and convincing evidence that the required increased aviation capacity will be delivered with a third runway,” McCluskey said in a letter to MPs.

 
“Expanding Heathrow is the best solution to these problems as it provides a quick and cost-effective mechanism to increase flights to new long-haul destinations, and to join them to a UK and European short haul network. The highest levels of such improvements in networked capacity are at Heathrow.”

 
McCluskey also pointed to the Airports Commission’s evidence that expansion in capacity “can go hand-in-hand with efforts to reduce CO2 emissions from aviation and allow us to meet our legal climate change obligations”.

 
“Heathrow’s location and its public transport connectivity makes it the most efficient location in terms of minimising carbon emissions from surface access,” he added.

 
Addressing the noise impact a third Heathrow runway would have on surrounding communities, McCluskey highlighted the fact that noise is already slated to be reduced significantly over the coming years as new and quieter aircraft come into service and as flight paths are redesigned and improved.

 
The noise impact would be additionally minimised if a strong package of mitigating measures, such as suggested by the Commission, were offered.

 
“These [measures] include a ban on night flights, a new noise envelope that could stipulate no overall increase in noise levels, a guarantee to keep air quality within EU legal limits, a £1bn community compensation fund paid for by Heathrow, and the establishment of an independent aviation noise authority,” McCluskey said.

 
He went on to argue that Heathrow expansion is not “just about London and the South East.”

 
“Benefits of expansion will be felt in every corner of the country,” McCluskey said.

 
“A new runway at Heathrow could be worth up to an additional £211bn to the UK’s GDP over 60 years, and over 180,000 new jobs covering a wide range of skill levels and occupations. In total, the Commission’s analysis indicates that around 60 per cent of the overall boost to GDP would be focused on areas of the UK outside the South East of England.”

 
McCluskey warned MPs that the one important ‘condition’ Unite has placed on its support for expansion “is the maintenance and creation of high quality and sustainable jobs”.

 
“We have an aviation and aerospace sector that are currently world class, providing a wide spectrum of jobs and sustaining skilled employment across the country,” he added. “Unless we take the crucial decision to invest in and build the infrastructure to maintain this vital industry we cannot hope to continue to compete at a global level.”

 
Unite is set to brief MPs later this week as part of its support of Heathrow expansion. Stay tuned on UNITElive as the government indicates when a final decision will be made.