Travellers may face disruptions during the summer at Gatwick Airport as staff have pledged to go on strike during some of the peak times of the year.
Unite the union announced on Friday that nearly 1,000 employees, including baggage handlers, ramp agents, and check-in staff, will participate in a series of strikes across eight days later this month, due to a disagreement over wages.
The workers are set to commence their strike with a four-day period starting on Friday, July 28, and ending on Tuesday, August 1. They will then strike for an additional four days, starting from Friday, August 4, through Tuesday, August 8, according to the announcement.
The scheduled strike is expected to affect passengers flying with several airlines, including British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair, TUI, Westjet, and Wizz Air.
Unite stated that these workers typically receive less than £12.00 per hour, despite their roles being highly demanding and crucial to safety.
Since January, the labour union has been advocating for a pay increment, but they express that their employers – firms performing duties for prominent airlines – “have not presented proposals that satisfy the workers’ demands.”
The employers in question include ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS, and DHL Services Ltd.
Dominic Rothwell, a regional representative at Unite, said, “The companies’ own decisions have led to a situation where strike action will undoubtedly result in significant delays, disturbances, and cancellations throughout Gatwick’s activities. They have repeatedly been given the chance to propose a fair wage increase to our members but have opted against it.”
A spokesperson for London Gatwick responded, “We have been informed of the recent voting outcome. London Gatwick will assist the airlines impacted, who have contracts with these third-party ground handling and check-in companies, by supporting their backup plans to ensure that the maximum number of flights operate as planned.”
