Gatwick porters to vote on strike action
Porters at Gatwick Airport are threatening industrial action, according to Unite the union.
It says they are considering going on strike after being told that they would only receive a pay rise if they agree to job cuts.
United said the porters, employed outsourcing giant ISS UK, earn just £8.68 an hour and are among the lowest paid workers at the airport.
They have, according to Unite, been told that their pay will only be increased if they agree to a 10% cut in jobs and accept new shift patterns.
The workers will begin voting in a consultative ballot today (Monday) and if as expected they support industrial action on the matter, a full postal ballot will be held.
Although ISS controls the contract all pay rises are funded directly by Gatwick Airport Limited.
Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: "Low paid ISS workers are effectively being asked to cut their own throats in order to fund a pay increase.
"The workers involved are among the lowest paid at the airport and undertake the roles that others are not prepared to do, in order to keep the airport running smoothly.
"Gatwick airport has just given its shareholders a £600 million windfall, giving these workers a pay rise would virtually cost them pennies.
"If members support industrial action Unite will fully support them. However, the union hopes that common sense prevails and our hard working members are awarded the pay rise they fully deserve."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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