Unite said the pay strikes involve baggage security screeners and adds to a string of other travel issues this summer
Travellers are set to face further disruption as Unite union announced that 300 security and passenger services staff at Gatwick, a major UK airport, are planning to strike on six days in July. This is expected to add to the woes of holidaymakers.
Unite warned that the issue could potentially cause significant delays at check-in. The pay strikes involve 100 baggage security screeners employed by ICTS and 200 Wilson James workers who provide special assistance services for vulnerable passengers.
Both groups of workers, who earn just above the minimum wage, have rejected pay offers from their employers and will strike from 12 to 14 July and 19 to 21 July. Unite stated that further industrial action would be scheduled if the disputes are not resolved.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “These workers undertake incredibly demanding roles at one of the UK’s busiest airports. They are simply seeking a fair day’s pay. ICTS and Wilson James are wealthy companies and can well afford to put forward acceptable pay offers. Our members at Gatwick have Unite’s total backing in taking strike action for a decent pay rise.”
Unite said the strikes will cause ‘significant disruption’ to security screening and passenger services. In addition, around 100 dNata HGV drivers and warehouse workers who provide all of EasyJet’s onboard catering at Gatwick are being balloted for strike action over a dispute regarding shift pay payments.
Unite regional officer Dominic Rothwell added: “The employers in these disputes are responsible for any disruption caused to passengers at Gatwick. These disputes could be easily resolved if reasonable offers are put forward.”
He also left a glimmer of hope for holidaymakers by adding, “There is still time to avoid industrial action, but that will require these companies to table deals that are acceptable to our members.”
A spokesperson from London Gatwick was quick to reassure travellers, saying: “We are working with our suppliers to avoid any impacts and we expect to operate a normal summer holiday flight schedule for our airlines and passengers on these dates.”
But it’s not just industrial action causing headaches for flyers; a shortage of air traffic controllers has led to a slew of cancellations and delays across UK airports. Ryanair and Wizz Air have been caught in the turbulence, with Ryanair confirming 60 flights axed and another 150 facing delays.
Neal McMahon, Ryanair’s Chief Ops Officer, blasted the ATC services as being at their “worst levels ever” and said: “These repeated ATC delays and cancellations are unacceptable. We apologise to our passengers for these repeated ATC flight delays and flight cancellations, which are deeply regrettable but beyond Ryanair’s control.”
Wizz Air said: “Wizz Air was prepared to ensure smooth summer operations for its passengers; however, the air traffic control system seems to be experiencing significant issues this summer.”
“As an industry, we are compelled to escalate these issues with the relevant air traffic management authorities, including Eurocontrol, to ensure proper mitigation actions are implemented to minimise disruptions.”
Last night easyJet cancelled a spate of flights to and from the UK at short notice. Some tourists even had to hastily rearrange plans after learning the news at the check-in desks at Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports.
EasyJet customers have contacted the Mirror in their droves to share their frustration at how the move by the budget airline has impacted them. These include people returning to the UK, such as 70-year-old Carole Fuller, a solo traveller, who has been stranded in Bodrum, Turkey, having had her flight to Edinburgh scrapped at short notice.
On Friday, June 28, London Gatwick Airport was forced to temporarily suspend flights after a plane delayed its takeoff, causing ‘hot brakes’ and blocking the runway.
This week, Youtravel announced that all bookings up to and including July 26 will be cancelled. The company stated it had made the ‘difficult’ decision to extend cancellations beyond July 5 as discussions about its future continue.
Youtravel is a subsidiary of the German company FTI Group, which filed for insolvency earlier this month. As many UK travel agents utilise products provided by the group, potentially thousands of travellers could have their plans disrupted.
It has been confirmed that all active bookings for arrivals up to and including July 26 will be cancelled without charge by Monday, July 1. This leaves agents holding packages for UK travellers with accommodation booked via Youtravel only a few days to act.