Heathrow ground handlers to strike during World Cup getaway
Will PayneHeathrow ground staff will take three days of strike action from 18 November – four days before England’s opening Fifa World Cup clash in Qatar – in a dispute over pay.
The strike action will begin in the early hours and will be completed in the morning of 21 November.
Passengers have been warned by the Unite Union the walkout will lead to disruption, cancellations and delays at Heathrow terminals 2, 3 and 4.
The strike will have a particular impact on Qatar Airways, which has scheduled an additional 10 flights a week during the World Cup.
Other airlines that will be impacted by the action include Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines, Cathay-Pacific and Emirates. Passengers returning to the United States for the Thanksgiving holiday are also set to be affected.
The strike involves 700 workers employed by Dnata and Menzies, who carry out a variety of roles, including ground-handling, airside transport, and cargo.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Our members at Dnata and Menzies undertake highly challenging roles and are simply seeking a decent pay rise. Both companies are highly profitable and can fully afford to make a fair pay increase."
It comes after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) urged travelling fans to "do their homework" on Qatar before setting off.
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