GATWICK Airport staff have threatened to strike after a pay offer from bosses was rejected.
It follows the news that luggage at Heathrow Airport could “disappear forever” in another pay-related strike by workers.
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Members of Unite the union have slammed Gatwick’s pay offer – a three-year pay deal offering a two per cent pay rise and a £250 one-off payment.
Staff would only receive the consumer price index (CPI) inflation rate increase and a £250 bonus in the final year according to the Union.
Of the 2,000 members of Unite, 98 per cent rejected the offer, and is threatening vote to strike during the spring, causing disruption across the airport.
Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: “It is now incumbent on Gatwick Airport to come back with a dramatically improved pay offer which meets the workers’ pay claim.
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“The airport is fantastically profitable as a result of the hard work of our members and they believe they should be properly rewarded for their hard work and loyalty.”
He added: “Unite’s members have no desire to cause disruption to the travelling public but they will not allow their pay to be cut in real terms.”
A Gatwick Airport spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “We are keen to see an agreement reached and for the focus to remain on delivering an excellent experience for our passengers this summer.”
TAKING OFF You could now be able to get up to £530 compensation if your airline cancels a flight due to a strike
Heathrow Airport passengers could also be affected later this year by a strike, with warnings of baggage being “lost forever”.
Unite staff have announced a walk out if their demand for the London Living Wage – £10.75 an hour – was not met.
During their two four-day walkouts, planned to take place on February 2 and February 22, the union warned that passengers could never get their luggage back.
Unite’s Clare Keogh said: “Passengers need to be aware if their baggage is mislaid it could disappear forever while members are on strike.”
Last year, Heathrow Airport passengers demanded compensation after a strike led to them booking new flights, only for their “cancelled” flights to be reinstated.
The demands followed a British Airways strike at the airport which caused chaos for 200,000 passenger over 48 hours.
Last year, a Gatwick Airport strike was suspended at the last minute.
