Heathrow workers will strike next Tuesday, the airport has confirmed.
Members of the Unite trade union will proceed with industrial action, protesting job cuts as well as re-hiring on reduced pay.
The strike, which was announced by Unite on November 16, will involve firefighters, engineers, campus security, baggage operations, operational and airside workers, and will effectively close the airport.
But it is not expected to affect passenger journeys as the lockdown will still be in place.
Workers are unhappy with the airport’s decision to sack and rehire 4,000 employees on reduced wages of ‘up to £8,000 annually’, City AM reported.
Wayne King, regional coordinating officer for Unite, said: ‘Workers are taking strike action as a direct result of Heathrow Airport’s brutal proposals to fire and rehire them on greatly reduced wages.
‘The airport is using the Covid-19 pandemic as a smokescreen to permanently cut workers’ pay.’
In total 92% of Heathrow staff (4,263) have already accepted the new terms.
Less than one per cent will suffer a cut of a quarter and less than three per cent will have to incur a 20% reduction in wage.
A spokesperson for Heathrow added: ‘Our focus has been to protect jobs – which is why we’ve offered every frontline colleague who wants one a job at a market rate salary above the London Living Wage, even despite a loss of over £1.5bn to our business so far this year.
‘We do not believe this strike action is necessary, but have activated extensive contingency plans which will keep the airport open and operating safely throughout this period.’
Unite is also planning further strikes on December 14, 17, and 18 when restrictions would have been eased and more journeys will take place.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.For more stories like this, check our news page.
