Heathrow Security Personnel Plan to Strike during Coronation Weekend

The unions have stated that the industrial strike will bring about additional disturbance to the commuters who use the airport.

The personnel responsible for security at Heathrow airport are considering a strike during the King's Coronation weekend.

There will be a new set of strikes occurring during two periods, May 4th to May 10th and May 25th to May 26th, due to a dispute regarding compensation.

According to the Unite union representing security staff, Heathrow Airport is in for a rough time in May. They have issued a warning that the planned industrial action will without a doubt result in chaos and delays.

"Next month's strikes will continue to negatively affect the airport passengers. However, this argument arose from Heathrow's unyielding reluctance to provide a proposal that satisfies our members' requirements," states Wayne King, Unite's regional co-ordinating officer.

Since January, Heathrow has been providing a salary hike of 10 percent. Moreover, they recently enhanced their proposition by adding a cash bonus of £1,150 (€1,300) for this year.

King explains that Unite members have expressed their desire for a significant and enduring pay rise.

He further comments that a tiny and singular payment will not alleviate the monetary stress that our members encounter in their everyday lives.

Although the CEO may live a luxurious life worth millions of dollars, our members find it difficult to meet their financial obligations and provide the basic necessities for their families. It's not driven by greed, but by necessity.

Can Heathrow Strikes Lead to Flight Disruptions?

The planned strikes could lead to inconvenience for a large number of travelers passing through the airport during the King's Coronation weekend.

Heathrow Airport claims it successfully ensured operations continued without any disturbances during the last instance of labor unrest that affected approximately 1,400 security staff. These strikes coincided with the hectic Easter weekend and affected Terminal 5, which is solely utilized by British Airways, in addition to the guards who are in charge of inspecting cargo that makes its way into the airport.

During previous strike days, British Airways cancelled approximately 5% of their flights and refrained from selling tickets.

According to Sharon Graham, who is the Unite general secretary, the conflict is expected to grow bigger and result in more disturbances that will last throughout the summer.

What other travel disturbances are happening during the Coronation weekend?

There are other strikes taking place during the bank holiday weekend. Traffic wardens in Westminster, located in the heart of London, are also participating in a walkout on the day of the Coronation due to a disagreement about their salary and work environment.

The Public and Commercial Services Union is leading a strike for workers at the Passport Office. This strike will last four consecutive days, starting on May 2 and ending on May 6.

Almost 2,000 individuals who examine passports are presently participating in a continuous strike. In addition, another 1,000 employees, including interviewers and people working in administrative and anti-fraud positions, will also join the strike.