Strikes at UK airports threaten to ruin 2019 summer holidays

British holidaymakers face a summer of misery as strikes threaten to cripple the country's major airports.

Unite, which is run by Jeremy Corbyn's chief backer Len McCluskey, has threatened to 'shut down' Heathrow by taking 4,000 workers on strike for six days at the end of July and August - just as the school summer holidays begin.

Passengers hoping the avoid that chaos by using different airports could get caught up in other industrial action taking place around the country.

Workers from two separate companies at Gatwick Airport are balloting to strike, hitting security gates and cleaning services.

EasyJet check-in staff at Stansted have also announced 17 days of strikes over low pay.

Further misery is set be caused at other airports around the country as British Airways pilots potentially walk out in another pay dispute.

The only good news for air passengers is that a planned walkout by Unite staff at Glasgow Airport was called off last month after an agreement.

The most disruptive of the strikes will potentially be those at Heathrow when staff, including security guards, engineers and passenger service drivers, will walk out on 26 July 26 and 27, August 5 and 6 and August 23 and 24.

Unite coordinator Wayne King threatened 'significant disruption to flights to and from Heathrow' and 'the potential closure of the airport over the summer months'.

Heathrow said it will be 'implementing contingency plans that will ensure the airport remains open'.

At Gatwick, Unite said last week that it was balloting more than 100 members who work for security firm ICTS, scanning passengers luggage for dangerous items.

The union has also asked members at ISS World - who provide a variety of services from baggage carrying to cleaning and waste management - if they want to strike.

A spokesperson for the Sussex airport said they do not believe action would cause widespread disruption if it went ahead because of robust contingency plans.

At Stansted, Unite said 43 staff who work on the budget airline's check-in desks have voted unanimously for the walkouts.

The union represents staff employed by Stobart Aviation Services, which runs the EasyJet contract at the Essex airport.

The first walkout will be July 25-29, on the eve of the peak holiday season. The other dates affected are August 2-5, August 9-12, August 16-19 and August 23-27 – the final day of each strike period covers just the hours from midnight until 3.30am.

Commenting on the Stansted action, Unite regional officer Mark Barter said: 'There is no getting away from it, these 17 days of strike action will cause severe disruption to thousands of Easyjet passengers using Stansted for their summer holidays.'

But EasyJet denied the strikes would be so disruptive.

A spokesman said: 'We are aware dates have been published for industrial action. Should this go ahead we have contingency plans in place so there would be no impact on passengers.'

Meanwhile, the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) said last week that talks with BA over pay have broken down.

A ballot over strike action will close on July 22 with the union saying: 'Until BA changes its attitude there is little prospect of talks resuming.'

A spokesperson for British Airways has said the talks have simply adjourned, adding: 'We remain open and flexible to find a solution to protect hard-working families looking forward to their summer breaks.'

Source: Daily Mail

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