Gatwick Airport baggage handlers and check-in staff to strike as school holidays begin
Nearly 1,000 workers at Gatwick Airport will stage eight days of strikes during the school summer holidays, one of the busiest times of the year for the airport.
The staff will walk out later this month in a dispute over pay, the Unite union has today announced.
Members of Unite employed by four private contractors will walk out for four days from July 28 and again for four days from August 4.
The union said the action will “inevitably” cause disruption to flights at the height of the summer holiday season.
Unite said it has been in negotiations with the four companies since January but claimed they have failed to make offers that meets the workers’ expectations.
The union’s general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members at Gatwick Airport undertake incredibly demanding roles and are essential to keeping the airport and airlines working, yet their employers somehow think it is acceptable to pay them a pittance.
“As part of Unite’s unyielding focus on the jobs, pay and condition of its members, the union has drawn a line in the sand and is committed to eradicating the scourge of low pay at the airport.”
A total of 4,410 flights are scheduled to depart Gatwick across all the strike days, equating to more than 840,000 seats, aviation data company Cirium said.
The airport is already suffering major disruption due to air traffic control (ATC) restrictions.
Strikes, staff shortages and air space closures related to the war in Ukraine mean ATC providers are limiting flight numbers across Europe.
Gatwick is the busiest single-runway airport in the world, but its flight numbers are currently capped at peak times due to the ATC issue.
The problem recently forced easyJet to cancel 1,700 summer flights, mostly from Gatwick.
A Gatwick spokesperson said: “We are aware of the recent ballot result and will support our airlines with their contingency plans to ensure that flights operate as scheduled.”
A Wizz Air spokesperson said: “We are in touch with Gatwick Airport and our ground handling partner and are doing everything within our control to limit disruptions for passengers.
"In case of any disruptions, we will reach out to any affected passengers who booked directly with the airline via email and sms and let them know their options as soon as we have an update.”
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