HEATHROW TALKS SET TO RESUME

CRUCIAL talks aimed at averting strikes by thousands of workers at Heathrow Airport have adjourned and will resume today. The airport has already cancelled 172 flights on Monday and Tuesday because of a planned 48-hour stoppage by members of Unite.

Union leaders met with Heathrow management under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas until 11pm on Friday and all day yesterday.

Unite’s members voted by almost 9-1 to reject a pay offer Heathrow said was worth 7.3% over two-and-a-half years.

More strikes are planned on

August 23 and 24 if the dispute is not resolved.

A Heathrow spokesman said last night: “Unite have rejected our revised pay offer today. While we are disappointed, we will continue to seek an agreement at Acas tomorrow. Unite is proceeding with its unnecessary strike action on August 5 and 6 and we regret that passengers looking to get away on well-earned family holidays will be impacted.

“177 departing flights have to be cancelled in preparation for this week’s strike in order to ensure the vast majority of passengers will be able to fly. Airlines will confirm with passengers what flights they will be consolidating and cancelling. We have activated contingency plans which will keep the airport open and safe on both strike days. We expect security queue times to be longer than normal and advise passengers to check our website for detailed information on how to prepare for their flights and when to arrive at the airport.

“We advise passengers to contact their airlines for the latest information, as well as follow our Twitter and Facebook accounts for further updates.”