Union calling off holiday strikes at three airports

Unionised airport workers have called off work stoppages that were to occur during two of the busiest days for end-of-summer travel and would have caused significant inconvenience for tens of thousands of UK holidaymakers.

The walk-outs that had been voted on by ground staff at Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted airports were timed to coincide with peak late summer travel days, just before the end of school holidays.

It was announced on the morning of 21 August, however, that new talks, with the aid of a mediator, had resulted in representatives of the Unite union and the workers’ employer coming to an understanding and avoiding the labour action.

Check-in staff and baggage handlers at Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted had voted to strike in protest against a pay offer that they described as “paltry” and which would have amounted to a decline in real wages due to the continuing high inflation rate.

A spokesman for the union, Gary Pearce, commented on the offer: “We have a new improved offer to put to our members. Because of the improved offer, all planned industrial action is suspended until we get the reaction of the members.”

Holiday weekend passengers at Stansted are still likely to have to deal with delays, however, as a separate walk-out is planned by 30 of the airport’s security services staff.

www.tgwu.org.uk