A week-long strike by low paid workers at Luton Airport employed by Sasse will get underway from 18.30 today (Tuesday 4 December) as part of the workers’ ongoing campaign for pay justice.

The workers who are responsible for maintaining a safe and clean environment for staff and passengers at Luton Airport are currently struggling to make ends meet on the minimum wage of £7.83. Sasse, which was awarded the contract by Luton Airport in April this year, has offered a three year pay deal to increase workers’ pay, but by 2021 workers will still be earning below the real Living Wage of £9.00.

Unite members employed by Clece Care Services have suspended their planned strike action while the workers vote on a revised offer from the company.

Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said: “Bosses at Luton Airport are behaving like Scrooge. By 2021 cleaners at Luton Airport still won’t be earning a real Living Wage.

“With cleaners out on strike for a full seven days in the run up to Christmas the stoppage will bring cleaning services at the UK’s fifth busiest airport to a virtual standstill.

“With healthy profits and growing passenger numbers, Luton Airport and its contractor have no excuse for paying workers below the real Living Wage.”

Unite members employed by Sasse will take a week of strike action commencing at 18.30 on 4 December, concluding at 18.29 on 11 December. 100 per cent of the workers who took part in the ballot voted for strike action.

In 2017 Sasse increased its turnover by 21 per cent to £9 million and London Luton Airport announced profits of nearly £40 million and carried almost 16 million passengers in 2017 but the airport has refused to intervene to insist its contractors pay at least the real Living Wage and treat workers at the airport with dignity.

On 5 November the Living Wage Foundation announced an increase in the real Living Wage by 35p an hour to £10.55 in London and by 25p to £9 outside the capital.

ENDS

Unite is a union that campaigns for and delivers better pay and conditions for its members. Unite is winning at work based on three core values. Secure Work: fighting for jobs and job security, Strong Voice: a union which is a respected voice at work and Decent Pay: a union focused on pay and conditions.

For more information contact Ciaran Naidoo 07768 931 315

  • Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with over 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.