After obtaining a better salary offer, security workers at Heathrow Airport have cancelled the first two days of their scheduled summertime strike.
June 24 and 25 will not see any industrial action, as reported by more than 2,000 employees.
However, if an agreement with Heathrow management can't be struck, Unite union members will proceed with the remaining 29 days of strikes this summer.
Heathrow security staff had vowed to walk out for nearly every weekend this coming summer, in a move that could cause chaos for travellers and families jetting off in the summer holidays.
Unite previously released a statement saying it was time to “escalate action” against the airport.
Why are staff walking out?
Staff want to be paid more and say there is an unfair pay gap between workers and shareholders.
So far Unite say they have rejected the airport’s offer of a “below inflation pay offer” of 10.1 percent. They say this has been rejected as they believe the true rate of inflation is around 11.4 percent.
A Unite spokesman said: “There is widespread bitterness among the workforce about how HAL used the cover of the pandemic to slash wages in real terms, using a ‘fire and rehire’ strategy. Unite’s research has revealed that since 2017, the average remuneration of HAL workers has fallen by 24 per cent in real terms.”
When are the strikes?
The series of fresh strikes by security guards at Heathrow airport was announced on June 7, which Unite says will see more than 2,000 of its members walk out throughout June, July, and August.
The first strike, due on June 24 and 25, has been cancelled, but a three-day strike on June 28, 29 and 30 is set to go ahead.
In July, strike action will take place from 14 to 16, then 21 to 24, and again from 28 to 31.
In August, strikes will take place from 4 to 7, 11 to 14, 18 to 20, and 24 to 27.
The walkouts have been planned to coincide with both the beginning of the school holidays and the August bank holiday, as well as the majority of summer weekends - some of the airport’s busiest times.
How will this affect my flight?
Specific flights have not been announced as being affected, but large swathes of the airport will have walkouts.
Unite say the Terminal 3 walkout is expected to result in a large number of airlines facing the prospect of disruption, delays and cancellations this summer. Airlines which run from there include Virgin, Emirates, Qatar, United, American and Delta.
At Terminal Five it is expected that walkouts will heavily affect British Airway’s summer schedule.
Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said: “Delays, disruption and cancellations will be inevitable as a result of the strike action. But this dispute is completely of HAL’s own making.
“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.”
But Heathrow say they will do all they can to stop anyone’s summer holiday plans from being chopped, changed or delayed.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Passengers can rest assured that 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.”
