Security officers at Heathrow Airport are set to stage a new wave of strikes this summer, potentially causing disruption for travellers at the UK's busiest airport. Around 2,000 members of the Unite union will walk out for 31 days between 24 June and 27 August, affecting terminals 3 and 5 and checks for non-passengers.
Unite described the action as a major escalation in its pay dispute with the airport, after workers rejected a below-inflation pay offer of 10.1%. The union noted that the higher rate of inflation, RPI, now stands at 11.4%. Previous strikes have had little impact due to Heathrow's contingency measures, but this wave includes Terminal 3 workers for the first time.
The walkouts coincide with busy travel periods including the Eid festival, the start of school holidays, and the August bank holiday. A Heathrow spokesperson said the airport will do everything it can to minimise disruption and stressed that a two-year inflation-beating pay rise is available if Unite allows workers to vote.
Unite's Sharon Graham countered that Heathrow is an incredibly wealthy company anticipating bumper profits and an executive pay bonanza, accusing the airport of getting its priorities wrong. The strikes come as Heathrow continues to recover from the pandemic, reporting a £139m loss in the first quarter of this year.
If an airline cancels a flight due to staff strikes, passengers are entitled to compensation unless given two weeks' notice. However, if cancellations result from airport staff strikes, they are classified as extraordinary circumstances, meaning passengers should receive a refund or alternative flight but not compensation, according to Which?.
