Stansted faces strike threat by easyJet check-in staff
Check-in staff at London Stansted could go on strike this summer, impacting thousands of easyJet passengers.
Unite the union warned of severe delays if a pay dispute is not resolved between staff and management at Stobart Aviation Services Limited, which holds the easyJet contract at the airport.
Workers are being balloted on July 2 on whether they wish to strike over Stobart’s refusal to pay wages in line with similar companies at Stansted, said Unite.
Unite regional officer Mark Barter said: "If our members working on the easyJet contract vote to strike, this will cause severe disruption for the airline’s passengers trying to check-in for their summer holidays.
"A major bone of contention is that, while workers employed by other companies at Stansted are being paid up to 20 per cent more for doing the same job, our Stobart members work unpaid overtime, experience staffing issues and lack of basics, such as drinking water during their long shifts.
"It is no wonder there is a massive turnover of staff at Stobart Aviation Services, as they feel undervalued and are paid dismally.
"Our members were transferred from Menzies to Stobart’s about a year ago and, despite having a recognition agreement that should have carried over, Stobart bosses have blanked Unite when it comes to trade union recognition – this is unacceptable.
"There is time before the ballot result on 2 July for easyJet to exert pressure on Stobart’s to settle these issues."
He said both parties are due to meet on Thursday (20 June).
"It is hoped that we can resolve the dispute without taking industrial action. However in order to focus Stobart’s minds on resolving the issue swiftly there will be no calling off of the dispute until we get some acceptable proposals agreed," said Barter.
"Any strike would hit easyJet’s profit margins in a competitive marketplace with passengers seeking alternative travel arrangements to avoid potential travel chaos at Stansted."
A spokesman for easyJet said it was aware of the proposed ballot and that if industrial action is confirmed, it will have contingency plans in place so there would be no impact on passengers.
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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