Heathrow Airport: What Will Be the Effects as Security Staff Go on Strike Again?

19 Apr 2023

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The Unite union has announced that Heathrow airport is going to experience disruptions in May because security personnel will be going on strike once again. This industrial action is scheduled for eight days and will occur alongside the travel dates families usually take, as well as the peak times of the coronation celebration.

Here are the essential inquiries and responses.

Who is leaving and when will they do so?

Approximately 1,400 security personnel employed by Heathrow Airport Ltd are set to participate in three distinct periods of work stoppage: May 4-6, May 9-10, and May 25-27.

The team works on security checks both in Heathrow Terminal 5 and the airfield checkpoints. They are referred to as the "Campus" squad.

The majority of British Airways flights go through Terminal 5. The other three terminals, namely 2, 3, and 4, will remain unaffected.

Does it truly signify chaos during the month of May?

Unite asserts that the upcoming strike will result in significant inconvenience for travelers at the airport. However, it's worth noting that a previous 10-day strike that occurred from March 31st to Easter Sunday caused little disturbance to travelers' itinerary.

At that time, Heathrow instructed British Airways to cancel 5% of their flights. Purchases of tickets for other departing flights were prohibited.

It is believed that there is a high possibility of the occurrence of the same events during the second round of strikes.

As per an airport representative, "We maintained steady operations at Heathrow airport during the preliminary 10 days of Unite's unsuccessful labor protest, and individuals traveling through can trust us to do the same during this instance".

During this crucial time for the nation, we will not permit Unite to obstruct the influx of travelers to the United Kingdom.

Is there a possibility of my flight being cancelled?

If the destination you are traveling to is among the routes serviced by British Airways with several flights per day, like those within the UK and Europe bound for cities like Dublin, Nice, Geneva, and Dusseldorf, it is probable that your flight is operated by this airline.

Flights that travel long distances will not be impacted. The rest of the terminals, such as Terminal 3 for BA departures, will function regularly. This disagreement over pay only affects this specific airport and no other airports in the UK.

The Independent has requested a statement from British Airways regarding the recent strike declaration.

What is the cause of the disagreement?

Heathrow airport has proposed an increase in pay by 10 percent. In their recent discussion, the airport management presented an additional fixed amount bonus of £1,150. However, the union declined the offer without consulting its members.

According to Wayne King, the regional coordinating officer for Unite, the issue at hand is a direct consequence of Heathrow's inflexible stance in providing an offer that fulfils the demands of our members.

Our members have made it abundantly clear that they want a significant and lasting pay raise. A tiny one-time payment won't relieve the financial demands that our members confront each day.

According to the union, the typical pay for a security officer at Heathrow airport is £26,000 per year in addition to a £4,000 shift allowance. In the past four years, the personnel's actual income has decreased by 24% after accounting for inflation, as stated by the union.

Unite recently conducted a survey among security officers which found that a whopping 35% are considering resigning due to the low income and demanding workload.

How much longer will this go on?

The leader of Unite, Sharon Graham, cautioned that the conflict will intensify as more employees are surveyed, and the disturbance will persist during the summer months.