Holidaymakers face severe disruption this summer as more than 800 workers at London Heathrow Airport have voted to strike in a major pay dispute.
The walkout, involving critical security and engineering staff, is set to cripple operations at Britain's busiest airport during the peak travel season.
Who is striking and when?
Members of the Unite union working across Terminals 2, 3, and 4 will begin industrial action on July 4th, 5th, 6th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 25th. The striking workers include:
- Security officers
- Airside engineers
- Operational technicians
- Passenger operations staff
The heart of the dispute
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham condemned Heathrow's management, stating: "Heathrow is an incredibly wealthy company... There is absolutely no need to attack our members' pay and conditions."
The union claims the airport's management imposed a below-inflation pay award despite recording significant profits and paying dividends to shareholders.
Potential impact on travellers
The strike action is expected to cause:
- Severe delays at security checkpoints
- Potential flight cancellations and disruptions
- Extended waiting times throughout terminals
- Possible impacts on baggage handling systems
Heathrow Airport has stated it is "disappointed" by the strike announcement but maintains contingency plans will be implemented to minimise passenger disruption.
Travellers are advised to monitor their flight status and allow extra time for airport processing during the strike periods.
