By Natasha Lomas, 13 October 2008 13:45
NEWS
The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) union has warned it may seek a judicial review of the government's ID cards scheme to prevent pilots being forced to carry identity cards.
As part of a phased introduction of ID cards, the government has stipulated that people working in certain 'sensitive areas' such as airports will be required to hold an identity card from mid-2009. Foreign nationals will also have to carry the cards, with theirs set to be issued from next month.
A spokesman for Balpa, which represents more than 10,000 airline pilots - some 90 per cent of the UK workforce - said: "The possibility of [seeking] a judicial review is very high on the agenda."
"[The review] would be on the basis that we are told repeatedly by ministers that the ID card scheme is voluntary but how can it be voluntary if we stand the prospect of losing our jobs?" he said.
The Balpa spokesman said pilots are of the view that security at airports can be tightened by implementing a national airport pass scheme, rather than by forcing them to carry ID cards. "We've been on at the government for a long time to standardise and have a national airport pass which in fact would do the trick but the government's refusing to go down that line," he said. "They say it's up to individual airport owners.
"[But] you don't have to go through the ID card route... It's a false premise. Security can be tightened in other ways."
Balpa's national exec has already had several meetings with the government to voice its objections to ID cards, and further talks have been offered, according to the spokesman, which the union intends to take up.
However, he added: "Ministers tell us, 'well, it's going to happen anyway'."
Additional primary legislation would be required for ID cards to become compulsory for every UK citizen or resident and, according to the government, there is no timetable for its introduction.
Comments
There are 9 comments. Join the discussion
1. Richard Davies
Everybody should refuse to play government ball!
If all pilots refused (as well as all others when the time comes)...they aren't going to put them all in jail etc. so people should call their bluff!
Also, how can a government that is meant to work for us and do what we want, send people to jail for not coming on board with a project that no one wants!?!
ID Cards are a rubbish idea and a complete waste of tax payers money. The government are just trying to push it through now to save face as doing a u-turn now would be disasterous for them!
2. GALLEYSLAVE
BY HOOK OR BY CROOK THE WASSOCKS OF WESTMINSTER WILL HAVE THEIR WAY!
3. Karen Challinor
a definition of voluntary
"Proceeding from the will; produced in or by an act of choice.
Unconstrained by the interference of another; unimpelled by the influence of another; not prompted or persuaded by another; done of his or its own accord; spontaneous; acting of one's self, or of itself; free." - from dictionary.com
what definition are the government using ?
would their definition have some clause that says people who refuse an Id card have the choice of becoming unemployed ?
4. Simon
@ Richard Davies
Well it's easy to sit here and say "I'll refuse" - but how many of us could hold out when the time comes ? We've been hit (possibly more than once) with fines (oops, sorry, civil penalties - they can't be challenged in court) and have to choose - continue to refuse, or continue to keep roof over head and food on table.
However, if the government has persisted in claiming that "it's optional" then I can see some interesting legal cases when the first person loses their job over this and claims unfair dismissal - while the employer counter claims that they were forced to impose this "optional" restriction.
5. Karen Challinor
it's the divide and conquer approach, or "how to eat an elephant"
pick a small group, apply lots of pressure and a reasonableish sounding argument
to those who aren't affected at least
with swinging penalties for non compliance then when they fold move on to the next group citing the first group as a "success" and as a reason for the subsequent group to accept ID cards as they would be protecting the investment of the first group and it wouldn't be fair on the first group if they didn't accept the measure, would it
then the next group and so on until everyone has "volunteered" or sufficient have "volunteered" for the government to compel the rest of us whether we wish to "volunteer" or not
6. NonyMoose
<<with swinging penalties for non compliance then when they fold move on to the next group citing the first group as a >>
As in - forced to go to swinging parties ???
:-)
7. RM
I think there's very little choice here - everyone needs to refuse to have one & then refuse to pay the fines - the country will be in complete chaos. Like Karen says, it's the elephant approach & it's only by stopping the small bites that the large bites fail.
If all pilots refuse point blank to have one the govt have the choice of the country brought to a standstill or giving ground. With the country brought to a standstill the govt become a worldwide joke - something I don't think they could cope with.
8. Karen Challinor
NonyMoose - my apologies I missed an 'e' it should have been 'swingeing' and not 'swinging', thank you for pointing that out
9. Joe Whitehead
One word... Strike
If someone wants to coerce you, then return the favor.