Strike Action threatens London Gatwick Flights over Summer Holidays
Around 950 staff from four agencies, including ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS, and DHL Services Ltd, which provide ground handling facilities to airlines such as British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair, TUI, WestJet, and Wizz, have voted to go on strike beginning at the end of July.
Unite union members have voted to strike, potentially disrupting summer holiday plans for thousands of families. Estimates suggest that during the strikes, 4,410 flights – covering over 880,000 seats – are scheduled to depart the airport.
Unite 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.”
The workers will strike for eight days in total, split into two four-day periods. The first period will begin on Friday, the 28th of July and end on Tuesday, the 1st of August 1, while the second period will take place from Friday, the 4th of August, to Tuesday, the 8th of August.
In addition to the four companies that have already received a mandate for industrial action, Unite will also ballot its members at DHL Gatwick Direct, Red Handling, and Wilson James. All three votes will close on Monday, the 31st of July. If workers vote in favour of industrial action, the strikes in these companies could begin by mid-next month.
Unite regional officer Dominic Rothwell said:
“Strike action will inevitably cause severe delays, disruption and cancellations across Gatwick’s operations but this dispute is entirely of the companies own making. They have had every opportunity to make our members’ a fair pay offer but have chosen not to do so.”
Gatwick Airport said it would “support the airlines affected… with their contingency plans to ensure that as many flights as possible operate as scheduled“.
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