Gatwick ground handler strike called off at the 11th hour

Unite union members employed at Gatwick by ground handler Red Handling will no longer walk out between 18 and 21 August to allow for them to be balloted on the new pay deal.

“Unite has been consistent from the outset, we believed Red Handling could afford to make an improved offer and that proved to be the case,” said Unite regional officer Dominic Rothwell. “Our members will now decide whether the deal on the table meets their expectations.”

The union has nevertheless said that if workers were to reject the offer, further planned strike action for 25-28 August would go ahead, potentially disrupting tens of thousands of holidaymakers during the August bank holiday weekend.