Half-term breaks thrown into doubt by airport strike
HUNDREDS OF HEATHROW WORKERS THREATENING ACTION
WITH new Covid regulations arriving Brits are booking foreign holidays in the hopes of catching some winter sun.
Londoners’ plans could be thrown into chaos, however, as hundreds of Heathrow Airport staff are threatening strike action.
Ground staff and baggage handlers employed by Menzies Aviation could walk off the job for three days during the February half-term over a pay dispute, The Mirror reports.
It comes as new travel rules are coming into place, making it easier for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers to jet around Europe.
It has been reported that around 400 Menzies staff, many of whom belong to the Unite transport union, are being “treated like second-class citizens” compared to similar companies Swissport and Cobalt – and that they may walk out for three days from February 11.
The company provides cargo handling and fuelling services for airlines including Qantas, American Airlines and British Airways at each of Heathrow Airport’s five terminals.
Extensive security protocols to combat terrorism will make the employees difficult to temporarily replace at such short notice.
In a statement on its website, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The UK is facing a cost of living crisis and our members at Menzies realise that a two-year pay freeze will make it impossible to make ends meet.
“Unite fights to defend the jobs, pay and conditions of our members. We make no apology for demanding that Menzies makes a fair pay offer to its workers.
“Unite will be defending our members’ interests to the hilt until this dispute is resolved.”
The strike ballot closed on Thursday January 27.
Unite regional officer Kevin Hall added: “If strike action goes ahead it will cause disruption and cancellations throughout Heathrow, potentially impacting on half-term trips and skiing holidays.
“Industrial action can still be prevented if Menzies takes a leaf out of its competitors’ handbooks, enters into meaningful negotiations with Unite and makes a fair pay offer.”
Phil Lloyd, a senior vice president at Menzies, said: “We are very disappointed that Unite are choosing to pursue this course of action at a time when everyone in the industry is attempting to rebuild consumer confidence and safeguard employment by restoring flight schedules.”
Mr Lloyd said he understood only 146 of around 1,700 workers voted for the strike action and the firm is “very confident” it will not cause disruption.
He added: “We are very empathetic to the cost of living increases our entire team are experiencing and have been having meaningful discussions with the GMB on the issue. We would like to have the same open and transparent discussions with Unite as we have done at many other UK airports where we operate.”
A meeting between Menzies and Unite was set to take place on Monday January 31.
A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport told the Daily Mirror: “We are aware of an industrial action ballot for Menzies employees who support airlines operating out of Heathrow.
“It would not be appropriate for us to comment on the ongoing discussions they are having with their employer.
“As always, we remain in constant dialogue with all partners who operate at Heathrow and will continue to do everything we can to ensure passengers can enjoy a safe and reliable journey.”