Gatwick security guards have suspended planned strike action after receiving a ‘dramatically improved’ pay offer.
Unite, which represents the 130 workers employed by ICTS (UK) to scan passengers’ luggage, said it is recommending they accept the deal.
The breakthrough came during a meeting yesterday, shortly after Unite announced that the chances of the two sides reaching an agreement had receded.
However, it later held what it described as ‘extremely productive pay talks’ with ICTS, which, said Unite, led to the improved offer.
Workers will now be balloted on the offer and in the meantime the 48-hour strike planned for this weekend and other strikes in August have been called off.
Unite said that as part of the pay talks ICTS (UK) has made a commitment to become ‘a fully accredited real living wage employer’, the first company at Gatwick to do so, according to the union.
Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: "The commitment by ICTS to become a real living wage employer is welcome and Unite will be applying pressure to other Gatwick employers to follow suit.
"Following this pay offer it is hoped that there will be more harmonious industrial relations with ICTS moving forward."
