UK workers campaign against ID cards

Representatives of the UK’s aviation workers say they are being used as political pawns to further the UK government's controversial ID cards programme (see: UK airport staff first in line for ID cards).

The British Air Transport Association (BATA) says aviation workers are being used as guinea pigs for the scheme. ID cards for airside workers, those who work beyond airport security checks, will become compulsory in 2009.

Roger Wiltshire, secretary general of BATA, says, “We do feel we're being used politically. The government intends a creeping introduction, to [lend the cards credibility]. We will be the first industry to have compulsory ID passes, even before the voluntary scheme is in place.”

8 July 2008