Unite announced that 700 employees involved in ground-handling and airside transport and cargo and who are employed by Dnata and Menzies Heathrow will go on strike for three days beginning 18 November.
The union stated in a statement that “it will lead to disruptions, cancellations, and delays at Heathrow Terminals 2, 3, and 4”
Qatar Airways will be particularly affected by the strike, as it has been operating an additional 10 flights per week during the World Cup.
The report stated that additional airlines likely to be “hit hard” include Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines and Cathay-Pacific.
It is possible that some of those affected include passengers returning from the United States to celebrate Thanksgiving, which falls on 24 Nov.
Unite stated that both companies are contractors to airlines and offered pay cuts compared to inflation.
The union stated that Dnata offered its workers an increase of 5%, while Menzies workers were offered a range between 2% to 6%.
They, Heathrow, and the airlines had not yet commented.
Kevin Hall, Unite’s regional officer, stated that strike action would inevitably disrupt, delay and cancel flights throughout Heathrow. This will be especially true for World Cup-goers.
“However, Menzies and Dnata created this dispute. They had every opportunity to offer a fair salary but chose not to.
