Heathrow flight delays warned as workers confirm strike action

‘This is a classic case of an employer that can fully afford to pay workers a fair pay increase but has chosen not to,’ union says

Hundreds of workers at Heathrow Airport will go on strike for 72 hours after talks over pay failed, a union has said.

The walkout of ground handlers at the UK’s busiest airport will begin in the early hours of Friday.

A further 72-hour strike will take place over the New Year period, starting on 29 December and ending in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

“This is a classic case of an employer that can fully afford to pay workers a fair pay increase but has chosen not to,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said.

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It comes amid a wave of strikes from other workers, including nurses and railway workers.

On Thursday, Unite said it had rejected a pay offer for ground handlers at Heathrow, saying what was put on the table was “miserable”.

As a result, it said a first 72-hour strike will go ahead starting at 4am on Friday, as well as the other later in the month.

The dispute involves more than 400 workers employed by Menzies,which operates from Terminals 2, 3 and 4.

Similar strike action took place at the London airport last month, which Unite said caused “considerable disruption and delays to flights”.

Hundreds are set to strike at Heathrow starting on Friday (Getty Images)

However, airport insiders told The Independent there was no great impact during the November walkout apart from a few delayed departures.

The second strike after Christmas will also coincide with a walkout of Border Force staff.

Unite said it rejected a pay offer of a 4 per cent increase backdated to May and a further 6.5 per cent increase from the start of the new year. It is seeking an increase of 13 per cent for this year alone, it said.

Unite regional officer Kevin Hall said: “Heathrow passengers need to brace themselves for fresh disruption at the airport purely because of Menzies intransigence.

“Strike action is being taken as a last resort because Menzies has only been prepared to offer our members a miserable pay increase that in no way reflects the cost of living.”

Miguel Gomez Sjunnesson from Menzies Aviation said: “We are extremely disappointed that Unite has rejected the pay increase despite GMB accepting the offer.

“Our offer of a 10.5 per cent salary increase is extremely competitive and reflects feedback from our employees. It is a great shame that as a result of Unite rejecting the offer, strike action will now fall on one of the busiest weekends of the year as people travel to meet family and friends for Christmas.”

He added: “We are well prepared for industrial action and have been working closely with key partners to put in place robust contingency plans. We remain committed to ensuring that our employees receive their increase as soon as possible and hope to be able to resolve this matter soon.”