Airport delays could get worse during the summer holidays because of staff shortages, a leading trade union has warned. Unite said delays at some airports over Easter will be repeated during next week’s half-term holidays and will be worse during the summer.
General secretary Sharon Graham said: “During the pandemic, when airline operators, and others in aviation, slashed jobs to boost corporate profits, we warned this corporate greed would cause chaos in the industry. The aftermath of mass sackings is now chronic staff shortages across the board. Aviation chiefs need to come clean with the public. This is a crisis of their making.
“We are determined that workers will not pay for this crisis. Current pay and conditions in the industry are so poor that workers are voting with their feet. It can only be resolved by offering higher wages and better working conditions for staff.”
Unite said staff were being urged to work more overtime. National officer Oliver Richardson added: “Unite will not accept our members being forced by their employers to work excessive overtime.
"Relying on staff overtime to run the business can’t be a long-term solution. Until the sector addresses the fundamental structural problems it has, delays, cancellations and chaos will continue.”
