Unite, the UK’s leading union, is escalating its industrial action at Luton Airport in a series of co-ordinated strikes concerning low pay and a break down in industrial relations.

Airport passengers will be braced for disruption as over 100 workers employed by GH London, who undertake ground handling for Wizz Air at the airport, have announced a further four days of strikes beginning on Wednesday 20 September. This is in addition to the strike already announced to take place on 13 September.

The strike is a result of GH London continually targeting and threatening a Unite rep with disciplinary action; the use of CCTV and audio recording of workers in break rooms without agreement; the company’s failure to follow its own disciplinary and grievance process; the disproportionate use of discipline against ethnic minority employees; and its failure to pay wages in full and on time.

Workers employed by Saase Limited on the airport’s outsourced cleaning contract will also be on strike for four days from Wednesday 20 September. The workers, who are paid just £10.90 an hour, have rejected a below inflation pay increase. The strike will result in dirty toilets and an unkempt airport.

Car park workers employed by APCOA will be on strike for 48 hours from Wednesday 20 September as a result of their company imposing a pay deal on them. The deal is considerably below the real rate of inflation (RPI) in January when the workers’ were due to receive a pay increase. Strike action will result in delays for passengers and staff who use the car parks and the terminal at Luton Airport. The workers taking industrial action include valet parking workers and bus drivers transporting passengers and staff from car parks to the airport terminal.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite never takes a backward step when it is supporting its members fighting to improve their jobs, pay and conditions.

“All three companies can easily take steps to resolve these disputes and avoid disruption at the airport but they are stubbornly refusing to do so.”

Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said: “Passengers at Luton Airport face fresh disruption this month but this is a direct result of all three companies refusing to enter into negotiations and failing to offer solutions which meet our members’ expectations.

“Unite is fully prepared to enter into negotiations and will meet the companies anytime, anyplace, anywhere.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Luton airport facing major disruption tomorrow due to industrial action

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications advisor Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235.

Email: [email protected]

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.