Heathrow passengers face chaos on Friday
Ground handlers at Heathrow are threatening to cause delays for departing and arriving passengers on Friday by walking out for 24 hours in a dispute over pay.
The strike will hit three of the airport’s five terminals.
Talks between Unite, which represents more than 500 of Heathrow’s ground handlers, and the management of ASIG, a subsidiary of Heathrow’s largest ground handler BBA, broke down yesterday.
The union claims the delayed 2013 pay award should have been implemented 14 months ago.
The strike will run from 00.01 on Friday for 24 hours, affecting flights to and from Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Check-in will be hit as well as baggage handling services, said Unite.
Staff have been offered a 5.5% rise over two years, which Unite said was ‘unacceptable, given the soaring cost of living’.
Unite regional officer Michelle Braveboy said that: "The prospect of incipient chaos for thousands of passengers should concentrate the minds of management and get them around the table again to negotiate a fair settlement.
"While the company was awarded the privilege of being the main ground handler at terminal two and has grown since 2013 by winning many new contracts, they have forgotten the staff who have contributed so greatly to that success.
"We are still negotiating on the 2013 pay award which should have been paid in July last year and are now having to negotiate a two-year deal as this year’s anniversary date has already passed."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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