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AIRPORT PICKUPS LONDON

Gatwick Airport Staff To Stage Strike In Dispute Over Pay
2 - Nov - 2018

Gatwick Airport Staff to Stage Strike in Dispute over Pay

250 workers at Gatwick Airport, including those that assist the disabled, plan to stage three 48-hour strikes in a dispute over pay.

The staff say they earn less than other employees employed by the same logistics company and are therefore asking for £1 an hour pay rise.

The three strikes will take place on 20th November, 26th November and 21st December from 5:00am and will end 48 hours later.

Gatwick airport has called on both sides to come up with an amicable solution. A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said, “We encourage both sides to continue discussions and to work for an outcome to resolve the dispute.

“The welfare of our passengers remains our top priority however and we remain confident that services at the airport will not be disrupted as Wilson James has a range of mitigation measures ready to put into place should strike action take place.”

Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: “Our members have given us an overwhelming mandate for strike action in their dispute over this massive inequality in pay.

“We now have a generous window of opportunity for the management to sit down with us and negotiate a decent pay award before the six days of strike action kick in this month and in December.

“The last thing our members want is to cause inconvenience and distress to those passengers who rely on their services during their time at Gatwick Airport but they feel they have been forced into a corner by a tight-fisted management who refuse to address the pay inequality issue.

“There is no rhyme nor reason why pushing luggage is valued more than helping people.”

A spokesman for Wilson James said: “We are disappointed in this ballot decision but we remain committed to continuing the dialogue in good faith with our colleagues at Unite to achieve a mutually agreeable outcome.

“In the meantime we are preparing contingency plans to minimise passenger disruption during the periods identified for industrial action.”

By Airport Pickups London