Gatwick Airport staff to go on strike due to pay row

Friday, November 2, 2018

 The massive inequality in pay has led the Gatwick Airport workers to go on strike for six days in the next two months.

More than 250 workers will be staging a three 48-hour stoppages from 05:00 on November 20^th  that will end at 05:00 on November 22^nd. This will be affecting thousands of passengers, during the same time the strike action will be repeated on November 26th-28^th and on December 21^st to 23^rd .

As per the union its workers look after about 14,000 passengers a week. For the year starting April 2018 there is a demand for a £1 an hour pay rise to bridge the gap with the airport staff pushing luggage trollies and the Wilson James staff.

Ones assisting the disabled passengers are paid £8.27 per hour. Before the first strikes start Unite had called on the bosses at Wilson James to get around the table for constructive talks.

Unite regional officer, Jamie Major, said that their members were given an overwhelming mandate for strike action in their dispute over this massive inequality in pay.

There is a scope for the management to sit down and negotiate a decent pay award before starting six days of strike action this month and in December.

The member want to cause inconvenience  and distress to the passengers depending on their service during their time at Gatwick Airport. They feel that they have forced into a corner by a tight-fisted management who is not in agreement with the pay inequality issue.

He further said that there no reason why pushing luggage was valued more than helping people, may be the airlines can charge more for heavy luggage and increase the profits.

Gatwick airports should set its priorities correct else there will be a reputational damage in the run-up to the Christmas holiday season.

South East is one of the most expensive place to live in the country and the existing pay of £8.27 an hour for the members was less than the voluntary UK living wage which at present stands at £8.75 outside.

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