Heathrow security officers to strike for 31 days this summer
James ChappleSecurity officers at Heathrow airport will walk out for more than 30 days this summer after the Unite union confirmed a "major escalation" in its pay dispute with Britain’s busiest airports.
Starting later this month, more than 2,000 members of security personnel across Terminals 3 and 5, as well as those working in campus security, will stage 31 separate days’ strike action.
The action will get under way on 24 June and run through to the August bank holiday weekend, with the strikes set to impact the Eid festival (28-30 June) and the start of the school summer holidays (21-24 July).
Airlines set to be impacted by the walkouts at Terminal 3 include Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Qatar Airways, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, while the action at Terminal 5 will mainly affect British Airways.
It comes after security officers based out of Terminal 3 last week joined their Terminal 5 and campus security colleagues in voting for strike action.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham warned the action would continue until Heathrow made its workers "a fair pay offer". "Make no mistake, our members will receive the union’s unflinching support in this dispute," said Graham.
Workers, said Unite, have rejected a below inflation pay offer of 10.1%, with the union claiming remuneration for its members at Heathrow has fallen by nearly a quarter (24%) since 2017.
The union added the dispute could escalate further in the coming weeks.
“Delays, disruption and cancellations will be inevitable as a result of the strike action," said Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King. “The company has been given numerous opportunities to make an offer that meets our members’ expectations and so avoid another period of damaging strike action. Sadly, HAL has stubbornly refused to take this opportunity."
Strike action will take place on 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30 June; 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31 July; and over 4, 5, 6 , 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26 and 27 August.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Passengers can rest assured we will do everything we can to minimise strike disruption so they can enjoy their hard-earned summer holidays. Unite has already tried and failed to disrupt the airport with unnecessary strikes on some of our busiest days and we continue to build our plans to protect journeys during any future action.
“The simple fact remains that the majority of colleagues do not support Unite’s strikes. There is a two-year inflation-beating pay rise ready for colleagues, if only Unite would allow them to have a say. We will continue talks with Unite about resolving this issue.”
A BA spokesperson said: "Like other airlines, we’re working closely with Heathrow airport to ensure robust contingency plans are in place."
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