Heathrow supply workers set to strike

Workers who transport food, drink and duty free supplies to airlines at Heathrow airport are to stage a five- day strike in a row over new rotas.

Members of t he Unite union employed by Alpha LSG will walk out f rom May 22. The union said “punishing” new rotas had been imposed on the drivers, who voted by almost nine to one in favour of industrial action.

The firm supplies airlines including American Airlines, Air Canada, Etihad, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways.

Unite r egional offi cer Jayesh Mistry said: “The new rosters are taking a heavy toll on the workers’ well- being. The company are treating workers with contempt.

“It’s an attack on f amily life and the drivers are fighting back.”

A company spokesman said: ““Unite has never previously raised concerns in respect of work- life balance to this work pattern, until i t was i ntroduced across our entire Heathr ow op e r at i on. We ar e immensely disappointed that Unite has escalated this with the unnecessary threat of strike action.”

A Heathrow spokesman said: “Heathrow has plans in place to provide additional assistance to passengers who may be impacted by this strike between the airlines, their colleagues and contractors.”