Gatwick Airport workers to strike for eight days in summer holidays

The strikes are over two weekends in July and August

Disruption, delays and cancellations are inevitable due to the scale of the action, the United union said on Friday, over the pay row.

The workers, at four firms, include baggage handlers and ground staff, will strike over two weekends at the end of July and the beginning of August.

There will be four days of strike action between Friday 28 July and Tuesday 1 August, then a further strike between Friday 4 August and Tuesday 8 August, the BBC reported.

Airlines that will be affected include British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair, Tui, Westjet and Wizz, the union said.

Unite said it has been negotiating on pay with ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS and DHL Services Ltd since January, but the firms have not made offers that meet workers’ expectations, The Guardian reported.

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 news comes days after easyjet cancelled 1,700 flights during the key holiday months.

The flights are in July, August and September, to and from Gatwick airport, just as many schools in England and Wales go on break.

The BBC reported that the airline has blamed constrained airspace over Europe and ongoing air traffic control difficulties, for the cancellations.

However, the company has said 95 per cent of affected passengers had been rebooked onto alternative flights and that those affected had been given the option to rebook or get a refund.

It further added that the cancellations represent, roughly, one day’s worth of flights. It will still operate about 90,000 journeys over the period.

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