Heathrow passengers warned of Easter strike chaos

Monday, 03 Mar, 2020 0

Union bosses are warning of Easter holiday chaos at London Heathrow as more workers plan strike action.

With days of lost baggage handling staff announcing strike action for most of March, ground handling firm Vanderlande has also confirmed six days of strike between March 14 and April 9.

Unite the union represents around 80 workers at Vanderlande, which operates Heathrow’s Terminal Three luggage belt as well as transporting baggage to and from the terminal, where planes from One World Alliance, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates dock.

Vanderlande is also responsible for loading freight on and off British Airways, Air Lingus and Iberia planes.

Unite said the industrial action could leave thousands of passengers without their baggage and potentially impact air travel.

The strikes have been called following a breakdown in industrial relations with Vanderlande, which began after staff rejected a 2.5% pay offer in August last year.

Following ACAS talks, the pay offer was increased to to 3.2%, but Vanderlande then announced it would not accept that its recognition agreement with Unite applied to employees that had recently joined the firm, excluding them from the pay increase.

Unite regional coordinating officer Wayne King said: "Vanderlande’s transparent attempts at union-busting have bolstered our member’s determination to achieve a fair pay deal for all staff.

"Vanderlande’s strong arm tactics mean the airport now faces Easter holiday chaos and delays across March and April that will impact air travel and the movement of cargo to and from Heathrow.

"Unite urges Vanderlande to rethink its position and approach to staff and engage with the union before the strikes commence.

"It is possible to avoid a shutdown if the firm stops trying to split the workforce and tables a sensible pay offer for all our hardworking members."

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Bev

Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.

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