Gatwick airport is set to be disrupted by eight days of strike action this month due to a dispute over pay.
The Unite union confirmed that the strike will involve over 230 employees from Red Handling, a ground handling company, and Wilson James, which operates the passenger assistance contract at the airport.
Red Handling is responsible for ground handling for airlines including Norse Atlantic, Delta Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal and Saudi.
Red Handling employees are scheduled to strike from Friday 18 August until Monday 21 August. Unite says that this four-day action alone is expected to disrupt or delay 216 flights, affecting approximately 45,000 passengers.
A second strike will take place over the bank holiday weekend – from Friday 25 August until Monday 28 August.
The strikes at Wilson James, meanwhile, will last from Friday 18 August until Sunday 20 August, and then from Tuesday 22 August until Thursday 24 August.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
“Red Handling and Wilson James need to wake up and smell the coffee, other employers at the airport are prepared to pay the going rate and there is no excuse why they shouldn’t do the same. There is no way our members will accept a real terms pay cut and poverty pay.”
The comes after four companies (DHL, ASC, GGS and Menzies) cancelled eight days of strike action in late July and early August following improved pay offers.
