Heathrow ground handlers confirm pre-Christmas strike action
James ChappleHundreds of ground handlers at Heathrow airport will walk out for 72 hours in the lead up to Christmas in a dispute over pay.
Around 350 ground handlers employed by Menzies at Heathrow will take strike action from 4am on Friday 16 December, the Unite union confirmed on Friday (2 December).
Unite said the action would disrupt flights departing Heathrow terminals 2, 3 and 4, particularly those operated by Air Canada, American Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss Air, Air Portugal, Austrian airlines, Qantas, Egypt Air, Aer Lingus and Finnair.
The union said Menzies’ offer of a flat rate increase for all workers would amount to a real terms pay cut with the retail prices index measurement of inflation currently standing at 14.2%.
It highlighted how this was at odds with the approach taken to its cargo workforce who were offered a 9.5% pay increase, backdated to May, and a further 1% increase from January 2023.
Citing Menzies latest accounts, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the firm was "highly lucrative" after posting profits of £69 million.
Unite regional officer Kevin Hall added: “Heathrow passengers are facing disruption, delays and potentially cancellations in the lead up to Christmas, but this dispute is entirely of Menzies own making. The company has offered a fair pay rise to one group of workers but not to its ground handlers."
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