Wednesday, February 12, 2025
regency radio sussex news
Click here to listen to Regency Radio The Number One Advert Free Radio Station in Sussex

Gatwick airport faces eight-day strike as workers demand fair pay

Gatwick Airport, – In a show of defiance against low wages, over a thousand workers are preparing to embark on an eight-day strike at Gatwick Airport, commencing later this month. The strike, organised by Unite, the UK’s leading union, has been sparked by an ongoing dispute over pay, affecting essential ground handling, baggage handling, ramp agent, dispatchers, and check-in agent roles.

The workers, employed by ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS, and DHL Services Ltd., companies providing outsourced services to major airlines, have been struggling with meager salaries despite performing demanding and safety-critical tasks. While pay rates vary among workers, the majority receive less than £12.00 per hour, a stark contrast to the level of responsibility they bear. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation, as many Gatwick Airport companies implemented large-scale redundancies and reduced the pay and conditions of their remaining staff.

Negotiations between Unite and the four companies have been ongoing since January. However, the employers have failed to present offers that meet the workers’ expectations, prompting the upcoming strike action.

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham expressed her dismay at the situation, stating, “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 conditions 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.”

The strike is scheduled to take place in two separate periods, totaling eight days. The initial four-day strike will commence on Friday, July 28, and conclude on Tuesday, August 1. This will be followed by another four-day strike from Friday, August 4, until Tuesday, August 8. As a result of the industrial action, significant disruptions, delays, and cancellations are anticipated throughout Gatwick Airport.

Several major airlines will be affected, including British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair, TUI, Westjet, and Wizz. Furthermore, Unite is currently conducting a ballot among its members at DHL Gatwick Direct, Red Handling, and Wilson James. Should these workers vote in favor of industrial action, strikes at these additional companies could commence by mid-next month.

Dominic Rothwell, Unite Regional Officer, highlighted the companies’ responsibility for the imminent disruptions, stating, “Strike action will inevitably cause severe delays, disruption, and cancellations across Gatwick’s operations, but this dispute is entirely of the companies’ own making. They have had every opportunity to make our members a fair pay offer but have chosen not to do so.”

More Sussex News

Sussex News Pages

sussex news logo
Click here to listen to Regency Radio

Sussex Coast News