Heathrow Airport Staff to Strike on Early Bank Holiday, Multiple Strikes Expected in Coming Weeks
On the early bank holiday in May, staff at Heathrow airport will be going on strike, potentially causing delays and disruptions for travelers. The Unite union, representing the workers, has warned that planes could be grounded as a result of the strike.
This is just one of several strike dates planned by different departments at the UK’s largest airport over the next few weeks. It is important for travelers to be aware of these strikes and their potential impact.
The first strike is planned for the early bank holiday weekend, with 50 refuelling workers set to strike on Saturday 4th May, Sunday 5th May, and Monday 6th May. The Unite union has stated that they expect severe disruption for passengers during this time.
The strike is due to a dispute over changes made to the terms and conditions of new staff recruited by aviation fuel firm AFS since January 2024. This includes reduced pension and sickness benefits. The airport has stated that they are working on contingency plans with AFS to minimize any potential disruption and ensure that passengers can still book flights with confidence.
A number of airlines are expected to be affected by the strike, including Air Canada, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Japan Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, Elal, Singapore Airlines, Korean Airlines, Air France, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Jet Blue, Lot (Polish), Royal Air Maroc, Middle East Airlines, SAS (Scandinavian), Tap Air Portugal, Malta Airlines, DHL, Aero Mexico, Latam Airlines, Air India, Logan Air, Bulgarian Air, Uzbekistan, China Airlines, Air Mauritius, Turkmenistan, Avianca, Asiana, Saudi, Tianjin Airlines, Beijing Capital, and Rwanda Air.
Additionally, almost 800 staff in various departments are set to go on strike for a week in May. These include passenger services, trolley operations, campus security, firefighters, and airside operations. The strike is planned for Tuesday 7th May to Monday 13th May and is expected to cause widespread disruption at the airport.
Unite has stated that the strike is a result of the airport’s plan to outsource the work of passenger services, trolley operations, and campus security by 1st June in a cost-cutting exercise. The union has raised concerns about safety and security with the potential reduction in the number of workers.
The union also stated that firefighters and airside operation members are joining the strike as they fear they may be next in line to have their work outsourced.
A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport has stated that they are reorganizing their operations to provide better results for customers and that there will be no job losses as a result of these changes. They also assure passengers that they have robust measures in place to manage any potential disruption.
In another strike, Border Force officers will be walking out for four days over changes to their working conditions from Monday 29th April to Thursday 2nd May. The strike will mainly affect arrivals, as over 250 Border Force staff will lose their jobs at passport control under new roster plans.
The Public and Commercial Services trade union, representing the officers, has stated that the changes disproportionately affect those who are disabled or have caring responsibilities. The Home Office, however, has stated that the changes will bring working arrangements for Border Force Heathrow staff in line with other ports and improve services for the traveling public.
The Home Office also expressed disappointment in the union’s decision to strike but remains open to discussing a resolution. They also assure the public that they have plans in place to minimize any potential disruption and keep the borders secure.
