heathrow
As a protest against proposed wage cuts, workers at Heathrow airport plan to strike for four days in the run-up to Christmas.
A warning from airport bosses that it wanted to impose salary cuts of 15 percent to 20 per cent because of the Covid crisis provoked the planned walkout which will involve all ground workers including crucial ones such as firefighters and baggage handlers.
4,700 staff in engineering, air-side operations, and security staff would be affected by the decision. However, the airport will stay open. The Unite union insisted that there is no economic reason for the airport to make these cuts, which could cost some workers up to £8,000.
The planned action will take place across London airports in December at exactly the same time as the new contracts take effect, December 14 and December 17 and 18.
The Covid pandemic made Heathrow lose more than £1billion with passenger numbers plummeting 82 percent year-on-year to 1.2 million in October.
Wayne King, Unite regional coordinating officer said, “The airport is using the Covid-19 pandemic as a smokescreen to permanently cut workers’ pay. Unite has put forward several alternatives suggestions to reduce staffing costs on a temporary basis, all of which have been summarily rejected by management.”
A Heathrow spokesperson released a statement to say: “It’s very disappointing that some of our union partners have decided to take strike action during the worst crisis to hit the aviation sector. We will now activate extensive contingency plans which will keep the airport open and operating safely throughout this period.”
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