Heathrow security personnel have now escalated their current industrial action, announcing weekend and weekday strikes until the end of August, which is the end of the British summer high season. August 7, the August bank holiday too will be a strike day.
According to skynews.com, the strikes will take place almost every weekend of the summer and some weekdays too. And workers’ union, Unite, has warned that the dispute could escalate further in the coming weeks.
Unite is in a long-standing pay dispute, and this is what led to the May industrial action and that which took place over the Easter weekend
The union says 31 days of strikes by over 2 000 staff will start at Heathrow on June 24, but the strikes will now be wider spread than previously, as staff from Terminal 3 will join the industrial action.
The workers have said they will strike on:
• June 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30
• July 14-16, 21-24, and 28-31
• August 4-7, 11-14, 18-20 and 24-27
The strikes are timed to coincide with the beginning of the school holidays and the August bank holiday.
During the April and May action by around 1 400 security staff, departing passengers were only able to bring two carry-on items through security.
Heathrow management appeared unruffled, saying that similar action and staff in Terminal Five had not been disruptive. An airport spokesperson said: "Unite has already tried and failed to disrupt the airport with unnecessary strikes on some of our busiest days and we continue to build our plans to protect journeys during any future action.”
Unite says Heathrow security officers are paid less than others at major airports in London and the South East.
Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, said Heathrow was an incredibly wealthy company, which is “anticipating bumper profits and an executive pay bonanza".
"It's also expected to pay out huge dividends to shareholders, yet its workers can barely make ends meet and are paid far less than workers at other airports," she said.
