Gatwick airport will not be subject to strike disruption this bank holiday weekend, after members of the Unite union called off planned industrial action.
Earlier this month it was announced that over 230 employees from ground handling company Red Handling and passenger assistance firm Wilson James would take part in strike action in a dispute over pay.
The employees had been due to walk out for four days between Friday 25 and Monday 28 August, potentially affecting 45,000 passengers.
But Unite has confirmed that the strike action has been called off “after workers accepted dramatically improved pay offers”.
Staff at Red Handling will benefit from a 14 per cent pay increase as well as improved overtime rates and better sick pay, while those at Wilson James have accepted a 16 per cent pay increase, as well as an increase in overtime rates from, a commitment to further negotiations over sick pay and the opportunity of improved shift patterns.
The new follows the recent resolution of a pay dispute covering ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS and DHL Services Ltd employees at the airport, which led to eight days of strike action in late July and early August also being called off.
Commenting on the news Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham said:
“This is a tremendous achievement, Unite has co-ordinated industrial disputes across Gatwick to secure well deserved pay increases for its members.
“The pay campaign at Gatwick airport this summer is one of the clearest examples yet of how Unite’s relentless focus on jobs, pay and conditions is paying direct financial dividends for its members.”