Week-long Heathrow strike threatened

BTN News
Wednesday, 24 April 2024

Faced with a threat to outsource 'hundreds of members' jobs' in a cost-saving exercise, UK union Unite is calling out firefighters and staff in airside operations, passenger services, trolley operations and campus security from Tuesday 7 May to Monday 13 May.


The union says hundreds of its members' roles are at risk in an exercise designed to save GBP40 million, a claim the airport refutes.

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said a strike would lead to "widespread disruption across the airport ... but Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) has brought this on itself."

The union says the airport plans to outsource work in passenger services, trolley operations and campus security by 1 June.

Firefighters and airside operations staff plan to walk out in support, says the union, because they fear they “may be next in line”.

The airport says it has contingency plans in place for the strike period and anticipates no impact on passenger journeys.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We are reorganising to deliver better results for our customers. 

"There are no job losses as a result of these changes, and we continue to discuss with Unite the implementation of these changes for the small number of colleagues impacted.

“Unite’s threats of potential industrial action are unnecessary, and customers can be reassured that we will keep the airport operating smoothly just like we have in the past.”

Week-long Heathrow strike threatened

BTN News
Wednesday, 24 April 2024

Faced with a threat to outsource 'hundreds of members' jobs' in a cost-saving exercise, UK union Unite is calling out firefighters and staff in airside operations, passenger services, trolley operations and campus security from Tuesday 7 May to Monday 13 May.


The union says hundreds of its members' roles are at risk in an exercise designed to save GBP40 million, a claim the airport refutes.

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said a strike would lead to "widespread disruption across the airport ... but Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) has brought this on itself."

The union says the airport plans to outsource work in passenger services, trolley operations and campus security by 1 June.

Firefighters and airside operations staff plan to walk out in support, says the union, because they fear they “may be next in line”.

The airport says it has contingency plans in place for the strike period and anticipates no impact on passenger journeys.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We are reorganising to deliver better results for our customers. 

"There are no job losses as a result of these changes, and we continue to discuss with Unite the implementation of these changes for the small number of colleagues impacted.

“Unite’s threats of potential industrial action are unnecessary, and customers can be reassured that we will keep the airport operating smoothly just like we have in the past.”