Bank Holiday Blues No More! Baggage Strike Cancelled
Written by AmieThinking of travelling over the Bank holiday?
We have been informed that there could be severe disruption if you are flying from Gatwick or Stansted Airport. Unions have said that baggage handlers and check-in staff at Gatwick and Stansted Airport are going on strike on Bank Holiday Monday 25th 2008 for 24 hours in a row over pay.
At Gatwick Airport, 318 Swissport workers will walk out, halting services at some airlines. A second strike is planned for Friday 29 August 2008 also.
After staff were offered a 3% pay offer it was rejected by Unite Union due to being below inflation – they said it was “an insult”. Workers from two unions at Stansted Airport also have voted to strike as well. Unite have hinted that industrial action could spread to other airports in the forth coming weeks.
Unite members working for Swissport at Stansted Airport will be joined by 30 members of the GMB union when they walk out on Monday 25th August 2008 and possibly Friday 29th August 2008.
If delays are imminent, it does not mean you have to completely cancel your plans, just check that you have a decent level of travel insurance that covers baggage delays and airport disruption.
UPDATE ON BAGGAGE STRIKE…
The strikes planned by airport workers that would have caused Bank Holiday travel misery have finally been called off. The dispute involved airport services business Swissport, and cabin staff and baggage handlers who are members of the Unite and GMB unions.
It would have affected Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester airports.
After hours of talks at conciliation service Acas, both unions suspended the planned strikes.
Tags: baggage strike, bank holiday, Gatwick Airport, stansted airport
