Chaos for holidaymakers as strikes to hit Gatwick airport

lmost 1,000 staff at Gatwick Airport together with baggage handlers and check-in employees will stage eight days of strikes starting later this month.

Union Unite mentioned the motion would inevitably disrupt flights on the top of the summer season vacation season.

It is about to convey additional chaos for passengers, after funds airline easyJet this week cancelled around 1,700 summer flights, primarily to and from Gatwick.

Announcing the recent strike on Friday, Unite revealed 950 staff will stroll out for 4 days from Friday, July 28 till Tuesday, August 1.

They will then stage a second four-day walkout from Friday, August 4 till Tuesday, August 8.

A complete of 4,410 flights are scheduled to depart Gatwick throughout all of the strike days, equating to greater than 840,000 seats, aviation information firm Cirium mentioned.

The airport is already struggling main disruption because of air site visitors management (ATC) restrictions.

The airways affected embrace British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair, TUI, Westjet and Wizz.

The hanging staff, who’re members of Unite, are employed by 4 corporations: ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS and DHL Services Ltd.

Unite mentioned: “Given the scale of the industrial action, disruption, delays and cancellations are inevitable across the airport.”

The union says that regardless of staff endeavor “highly demanding and safety critical” roles, throughout the pandemic corporations at Gatwick carried out large-scale redundancies and lower the pay and circumstances of remaining employees.

Unite has reportedly been in negotiations with the 4 corporations since January however says they “all have failed to make offers that meets the workers’ expectations”.

Unite common secretary Sharon Graham mentioned: “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 condition 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.”

Phil Lloyd, Senior Vice President UK at Menzies Aviation, mentioned: “Sadly, Unite has rejected our earlier pay increase of 11 per cent for our ground services employees at Gatwick Airport.

“This pay award relates to our 2023 Pay Review and is in addition to the 10 per cent increase awarded in 2022. We are in continued discussions with our airline partners and remain committed to seeking a resolution.

“We have invited Unite to return to the table to continue discussions and hope to be able to reach an agreement which is workable for both the business and our employees. We will continue to work to pursue an agreeable solution to protect service to our airline and airport partners and their customers.”

A BA spokesperson mentioned: “Our ground handling agent at Gatwick, GGS, is surprised by Unite’s announcement, given the constructive conversations they’ve had this week. It is continuing to work with the union to resolve this issue as a matter of urgency so as not to disrupt our customers’ travel plans.”

Gatwick Airport is already struggling main disruption because of air site visitors management (ATC) restrictions.

Strikes, employees shortages and air area closures associated to the battle in Ukraine imply ATC suppliers are limiting flight numbers throughout Europe.

Gatwick is the busiest single-runway airport on the earth, however its flight numbers are at the moment capped at peak occasions as a result of ATC concern.

The downside lately pressured easyJet to cancel 1,700 summer season flights, largely from Gatwick. The choice will have an effect on 180,000 passengers, the Independent reported.

Earlier this week, Gatwick Airport was revealed as the “worst in the Europe” for cancellations and delays – with greater than half of flights disrupted final month.

Research by passenger rights knowledgeable AirHelp discovered a staggering 54.08 per cent of flights from the busy London airport had been cancelled or delayed in June.

It made the terminus, primarily based in west Sussex, the worst main European airport for disruption.

Responding to news of the Unite motion, a Gatwick spokesperson mentioned: “We are aware of the recent ballot result. London Gatwick will support the airlines affected, who hold the contracts with the third-party ground handling and check-in companies, with their contingency plans to ensure that as many flights as possible operate as scheduled.”

A spokesperson from DHL Supply Chain mentioned: “We are disappointed to hear that Unite and its members have voted in favour of industrial action at our Gatwick ground handling operation.

“However, we proceed to work intently with Unite to succeed in a passable conclusion for all events.”

Content Source: www.normal.co.uk

Chaos for holidaymakers as strikes to hit Gatwick airport

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