Travel

Luton Airport staff on strike ahead of May Bank Holiday – what you need to know


BRITS travelling from London Luton Airport ahead of the May Bank Holiday should allow extra time as the hub is currently being affected by strike action.

The strikes, the first of which started on Wednesday this week, involves staff on baggage and security check.

 There is currently strike action affecting London Luton Airport

Getty – Contributor

There is currently strike action affecting London Luton Airport

 

There are two separate strikes affecting London Luton Airport in the next couple of weeks.

The first strike, which is currently in effect, will last until 9pm on May 5.

A second strike will then take place from 4:30am on May 7 to 8:59pm on May 13.

More than 96 per cent of workers voted to strike after a disagreement over shift patterns.

Unite claim that a new pattern, which will affect 120 security guards, will result in staff working an extra 15 days a year.

Unite regional officer, Jeff Hodge said: “Luton Airport is taking a very heavy- handed approach by trying to force security guards to work an extra 15 days.

 Travellers will face two weeks of disruption

Alamy

Travellers will face two weeks of disruption

“As a result the airport has now provoked strike action over the bank holiday weekend.
“Security guards at Luton Airport work hard and have an incredibly important job to do.

“The airport needs to take responsibility for the staff shortages by doing what’s needed to recruit new staff rather than heaping all the burden on to its workforce.

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“The union offered to put the strike on hold to allow talks to continue but management is pressing ahead with its changes.

“The airport now faces serious disruption over the bank holiday unless management urgently enters into genuine negotiations.”

A Luton Airport spokesperson told Sun Online Travel earlier this week: “We are disappointed Unite is pressing ahead with industrial action, however we have robust contingency plans in place to minimise disruption to passengers.

“We remain open to further talks with Unite, but they have declined our requests to meet.”

The airport said that “so far there has been no disruption to passengers with an average security wait time of 5 minutes.

” However, wait times may be slightly longer on occasions.”

Earlier this year, baggage handlers and check in staff at Luton Airport threatened to strike due to a pay dispute.

However, this was called off at the last minute.





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