Heathrow ground handlers call off new year strike action

Around 400 workers employed as ground handlers by Menzies at Heathrow walked out for 72 hours last month, and had been due to stage a second 72-hour walkout starting 16 December.

However, this action was called off at the 11th hour after Menzies made a fresh pay offer. Workers were subsequently balloted on the offer, which they accepted, ensuring the action that had been due to get under way on 29 December is now off.

Unite said the new deal included a 9.5% pay increase, backdated to May 2022, and a further 1% from January 2023.

General secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an excellent result for our members at Menzies. By taking a stand and acting in unit,y they have achieved a dramatically improved pay increase.

Regional officer Kevin Hall added: “Unite made it clear from the outset that we believed that Menzies could afford to make our members a fair offer and that proved to be the case."