ID card rollout begins

[Ian Batten]

>
> I can see an argument for standardising on a plastic card - do you =20
> really want airport workers having to carry a passport and open it =20
> dozens of times a day.


Do you not think that airside workers might possibly already carry =20
photographic ID demonstrating their airside clearance, displayed =20
permanently, fitted with a variety of security features?   As BALPA =20
said at the TUC congress last week:

> 45 National Identity Scheme
>
> Congress notes that the Government proposes to require workers in =20
> aviation to enrol in the National Identity Scheme in 2009. Congress =20=

> has deep concerns about the implications of the National Identity =20
> Scheme in general and the coercion of aviation workers into the =20
> scheme in particular. Congress sees absolutely no value in the =20
> scheme or in improvements to security that might flow from this =20
> exercise and feels that aviation workers are being used as pawns in =20=

> a politically led process which might lead to individuals being =20
> denied the right to work because they are not registered or chose =20
> not to register in the scheme. Congress pledges to resist this =20
> scheme with all means at its disposal, including consideration of =20
> legal action to uphold civil liberties.
>
> British Air Line Pilots=92 Association



> And if it's really an ID card that allows EU travel, like the ones =20
> issued in other countries, it fits in nicely.

How can it be?  There are airside passes issued to people who not =20
merely aren't EU citizens, but don't even have right of abode.  I =20
believe pilots operating through UK airports require a UK airside =20
pass, for example.

ian