• The trade union that represents workers at London Heathrow is calling for “spades in the ground,” to speed up the proposed expansion at the major UK hub.
• It has called the project one of the country’s most important infrastructure projects, and warned against opponents using delays in the revised timeline for the project to advocate for its cancellation.
• Last year £293 billion worth of goods passed through LHR, which represent more than 25 percent of all UK trade by value. 

The GMB Union, one of the largest trade unions in the United Kingdom (UK), has called for ‘getting spades in the ground’ as the debate surrounding London Heathrow’s (LHR’s) planned expansion of a third runway once again came to the fore last week.

Quoting LHR’s position as ‘Britain’s biggest port by value,’  it has blamed a slow planning system in the UK is to blame, and this should be fixed instead of abandoning ‘one of the country’s most important infrastructure projects.’ Last year £293 billion passed through LHR, which represent more than 25 percent of all UK trade by value.

“Opponents of this runway will try to dress up a timetable as a verdict. It isn’t one. A project taking longer to build is not a reason not to build it. It’s a reason to start now. Heathrow has been clear that the hold-up is planning and red tape. Politicians can fix that. The Chancellor is right to be clearing bottlenecks, and we want to see that go further and faster. Finalise the framework, hold the vote and get building. There are 108,000 jobs waiting on this decision. Every year of dithering is a year of apprenticeships not started, contracts not signed and wages not paid. Our members aren’t waiting for 2039. The jobs start the day the spades go in the ground. GMB members keep Heathrow running every day. They’re ready to build what comes next. Let’s get building,” said Warren Kenny, London Regional Secretary of the GMB Union.

The union has hit back at attempts by some to use LHR’s revised timeline for the project as an argument for cancelling the project at the major UK hub. LHR has said its current estimation is that the airport will be able to secure planning permission by 2029, and open the new runway within a decade.

“It’s right that ambitious targets were set, the sooner expansion begins the sooner the whole UK will benefit. Our focus has always been to secure planning permission by 2029. Once achieved the runway will be open within a decade – and the benefits of expansion can be felt from today. At least 108,000 new jobs and £ billions invested in supply chains in every part of the country. This is a national project, 100 percent privately financed which will support growth today and secure the UK’s position in the global economy once the runway opens,” said a spokesperson from London Heathrow.

“Critically, expanding Heathrow is a national project which will create jobs and boost growth in every part of the country. That’s why it is supported by trade unions, business groups, airports and communities across the UK and why we need to crack on with delivering it as quickly as possible.”

The spokesperson also confirmed LHR’s commitment to working with surrounding communities to make sure expansion plans are responsible, and recent polling from local voices has indicated there is support for expansion.

Elsewhere, the union has also called on international competitiveness as a key motivator for the expansion project, as with regard to LHR “it is full. Two runways. No spare capacity. Nowhere left to grow. Every year without a third runway is a year that new trade goes to France, Germany and the Netherlands instead of Britain.”

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