In search of a salary improvement, that is the premise to start an eight-day strike for almost a thousand workers at London’s Gatwick airport, including those in charge of the ground assistance service and those in charge of baggage handling. As reported this Friday by Unite, the union for the sector, the strikes will begin at the end of July.
The eight days of strike will be divided into two blocks: the first from July 28 to August 1 and the second from August 4 to 8, according to Unite in a statement. Airlines serving Gatwick include British Airways (BA), Easyjet, Ryanair, TUI, Westjet and Wizz.
The unemployed -950- are employed by the companies ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS and DHL Services Ltd, according to Unite, adding that these companies subcontract for the main airlines.
The union said that while the workers have different salaries, most are paid less than 12 pounds an hour (13.9 euros), despite the fact that these people have security jobs. Unite added that it has been in negotiations with the four companies since January this year, but none have made offers that meet the expectations of the workers.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said union members in Gatwick “take on extremely demanding jobs and are essential to keeping the airport and airlines running, yet their employers somehow think it’s acceptable to pay them a pittance.” .
Unite’s regional director, Dominic Rothwell, admitted that the move “will inevitably cause serious delays, disruptions and cancellations to Gatwick operations, but this dispute is entirely the responsibility of the companies. They have had every opportunity to make an offer of pay our members fairly, but they have chosen not to do so. The forceful measure may cause disruption for thousands of passengers who use Gatwick to start their summer holidays.
This information has been released days after easyjet, which operates at Gatwick, reported that it will cancel some 1,700 flights this summer in response to several challenges faced by the operation of air traffic control (ATC) in Europe.
EasyJet said most of the cancellations will take place between July and September at Gatwick and could affect 180,000 passengers, although almost all have already been rebooked on alternative flights.
