Passengers travelling through Gatwick Airport in the coming weeks may face delays and cancellations as service provider staff prepare to take strike action.
The industrial disputes, involving employees of Redline Oil Services and Red Handling, are expected to coincide with the May half-term holiday and continue into June.
Refuelling staff employed by Redline Oil Services, who provide services to several airlines including easyJet, are scheduled to stage two separate four-day strikes. The action follows the rejection of a pay offer for a 3.5 percent increase over two years. The first walkout is set to begin on 16 May.
Red Handling workers, who include baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers, are also planning further industrial action after previous strikes over the Easter period. More than 100 employees are expected to take part in four consecutive Sunday strikes, beginning on 11 May. These workers support operations for airlines such as Norwegian, Delta and TAP.
According to Unite, the trade union representing the employees, staff at Red Handling have raised concerns over late wage payments, pension-related issues, and inadequate break times. The union has also alleged that the company responded to previous strike action by assigning unfavourable shifts and conducting return-to-work interviews.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:Workers at both companies have had enough of poor pay offers and appalling treatment from their employers and it is little surprise they are taking strike action.
We will back our members at Red Handling and Redline all the way during these disputes.
Gatwick Airport has not yet issued a statement regarding the anticipated disruption.
Unite regional officer David Taylor said:The way our workers have been treated by Red Handling since returning to work after the first wave of action is nothing short of a disgrace, with union busting rife at the company. Unite will not stand for it.
Our message throughout this has been simple: pay our members their pensions and there will be no more action, but all the workers get is false promises.
We appreciate that delays and cancellations are very frustrating for those looking to travel, especially during the half term holidays but this is a dispute entirely of Red Handling and Redline's own making. We urge them both to come back to the table for negotiations.
