Gatwick Airport strike will cause problems for thousands of passengers
Holidays chaos as Gatwick Airport workers to strike for eight days this summer. Baggage handlers and check-in staff at Gatwick Airport are among those who will strike for eight days over a pay dispute.
Gatwick Airport workers are set to strike for eight days this summer, causing chaos for hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers. Members of Unite employed by four private contractors will walk out for four days from July 28 and again for four days from August 4. The dispute is over pay, with workers claiming they are paid a pittance despite undertaking highly demanding and safety-critical roles.
The strikes are being organized by the Unite union, which claims that 950 workers at Gatwick Airport are being paid a pittance despite undertaking highly demanding and safety-critical roles. The union has been in negotiations with the four companies since January (ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS and DHL Services Ltd) that employ the workers, but they claim that the companies have failed to make fair pay offers.
Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, has said that the union has drawn a line in the sand and is committed to eradicating the scourge of low pay at the airport.
“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.”
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According to Unite, the majority of the workers who are going on strike are paid under £12 an hour, which they believe due to the high demanding and safety critical roles they undertake is shocking.
The strikes will take place on four days from July 28 and four days from August 4. Workers employed by ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS and DHL Services, which conduct outsourced operations for airlines, will walk out. The action will inevitably cause disruption to flights at the height of the summer holiday season.
A total of 4,410 flights are scheduled to depart Gatwick across all strike days, equating to more than 840,000 seats, aviation data company Cirium said. Just over half of flights scheduled are with Easyjet while nearly 500 British Airways flights were set to depart during the strike period. Popular holiday destinations of Spain and Portugal are expected to face the brunt of the disruption.
Travel experts have said If you are due to travel from Gatwick Airport during the strike period, you will likely be affected by the industrial action. Delays and cancellations are inevitable, and it is advisable to check with your airline before you travel to the airport.
Easyjet has already cancelled 1,700 Gatwick flights this summer as a result of air traffic control issues and the closure of air spaces related to the war in Ukraine. Other airlines are likely to follow suit and cancel flights during the strike period.
The best course of action is to keep up to date with the latest news and advice from your airline and the airport. If your flight is cancelled or delayed, you may be entitled to compensation under EU regulations. Check with your airline for further information.
With Doncaster Airport now closed, Gatwick, Heathrow, and London Stansted Airport have become a popular airports with people living in Lincolnshire including Grimsby, Boston, Lincoln, and Skegness. It. Now due to the strikes, those who rely on Gatwick will be forced to look for alternative airports.
If you are unable to travel from Gatwick Airport during the strike period, there are alternative airports you can use. Heathrow Airport, London City Airport, and Stansted Airport are all within easy reach of London and offer flights to a wide range of destinations.
The airlines affected include British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair, TUI, Westjet and Wizz Air.
Keep up to date with the latest news and advice, and plan accordingly to avoid any unnecessary disruption to your travel plans.