Heathrow and Gatwick Airport staff are set to strike next week causing huge disruption for holidaymakers. The two-day Heathrow strike is scheduled to start at 12.00am on Monday 5 August, finishing at 11.59pm Tuesday 6 August. The industrial action involves security guards, firefighters, engineers, passenger service operatives and passenger service drivers – all fighting for better pay. At Gatwick, security workers will strike for 48 hours from 06.00 on Saturday 10 August. This is what you need to know.
Heathrow Airport
Workers’ union Unite announced today that members had overwhelmingly rejected a revised pay offer from the airport by 88 per cent, with more groups voting to go on strike.
According to Unite: “The dispute comes amid deepening anger over pay disparities between workers doing the same job at the airport and the ‘massive’ pay package of Heathrow Airport’s chief executive officer John Holland-Kaye.
“Last year the Heathrow boss received a 103.2 per cent pay increase with his basic remuneration package rising from £2.097 million in 2017 to £4.2 million in 2018.
“It takes Mr Holland-Kaye around two days to earn what some of the lowest-paid Heathrow workers earn in a year.”
Commenting Unite regional coordinating officer Wayne King said: “Heathrow faces a compensation bill in the region of £4.6 million from airlines if the planned strikes go ahead.
“Rather than provoking the disruption that strike action will cause, we would urge Heathrow Airport to use this money for an improved pay offer that better reflects the hard work of the workers who keep the airport running safely and smoothly.
“This latest vote for strike action points to growing anger among the airport’s workers in a whole range of vital jobs which are essential to the smooth and safe running of Heathrow.
“Airport bosses need to heed this latest strike vote and the overwhelming rejection by our members of the revised pay offer which offers little over and above the original offer of £3.75 extra a day for many workers.
“It is in Heathrow bosses’ power to settle this dispute. We would urge them to work with us to do so and avoid the disruption to passengers that strike action will inevitably bring.”
Heathrow Airport has said they will be implementing contingency plans if the strikes go ahead to ensure the airport remains open and operating safely.
An update on the Heathrow website states: “Whilst most flights will operate as scheduled, to ensure your comfort, safety and security during this time, we are working with our airline partners to consolidate and reduce the number of flights operating during the strike period.
“Unfortunately, this does mean that some passengers will be moved onto different flights by their airlines. This is a difficult time for Heathrow, our airline partners, and above all our passengers, as the proposed strike action has been unreasonably designed to impact passengers taking well-deserved holidays. We apologise for any disruption to your journey and appreciate your patience during this time.
“If you are due to travel on one of the proposed strike days, your airline will be able to confirm the status of your flight – you will find their up to date contact information on our airline contact page.
“When contacting your airline, their advice may be that there is currently no update or change to your flight status; you should feel reassured that this means your flight is scheduled to depart without changes and we invite you to prepare for your flight as you booked it.
“However, to make sure you are as up to date as possible on your flight status, we would recommend that you contact your airline both in the days leading up to your flight and before travelling to Heathrow.”
Gatwick Airport
Security workers at Gatwick Airport are to strike for 48 hours over poverty pay rates.
Unite said that the staff are employed to scan passengers’ luggage for explosive materials and other dangerous and prohibited items.
Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: “It is a very security sensitive job to ensure the safety of the travelling public, yet the majority of these workers are paid less than £9 an hour, which is not enough to live on in the expensive south east of England, with its sky-high housing costs.
“Security and safety should be the absolute top priorities and yet these workers feel undervalued, demotivated and fed up of working for an employer that doles out poverty wages.”
Major added: “The strike will mean passengers will inevitably experience delays and a poorer service, but this is now in the hands of ICTS bosses and the management of Gatwick Airport.”
Gatwick has said it does not expect flights at the London airport to be affected.
A spokesperson for the airport told Mirror Online: “We have been reassured by ICTS that the mitigation plans in place mean that flights will not be impacted at Gatwick.
“In the interests of our passengers, we continue to encourage both sides in this dispute to work towards a resolution.”
