Baggage handlers at London Heathrow have confirmed that they will strike for 72 hours from 04h00 on Friday, December 16 until Monday, December 19. A total of 10 airlines from Terminals 2, 3, and 4 will most likely be affected.
The BBC reports that these are Air Canada, American Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, Austrian Airlines, Qantas, EgyptAir, Aer Lingus and Finnair.
Trade union, Unite, says Menzies Aviation made a fair pay offer to cargo workers at Heathrow but is not prepared to make a similar offer to the 350 ground-handlers, hence the decision to strike. Cargo workers were offered an increase of 9,5% in pay backdated to May 2022 and another 1% up from January 2023.
"We are well prepared for further industrial action and are working closely with key partners to put in place robust contingency plans,” says Miguel Gomez Sjunnesson, Executive VP Europe at Menzies Aviation.
"We remain committed to seeking a resolution on the pay talks in our ground-handling operations so our employees can receive their increase now, and hope to be able to reach an agreement that is workable for both the business and our employees.
"The Menzies ground-handlers have been offered a flat rate increase which, for all the workforce, amounts to a real-terms pay cut, while the real inflation rate currently stands at 14,2%," a spokesperson from Unite pointed out.
