Heathrow Airport strike update: Weekend walkout suspended but August action set to go ahead

Megan White24 July 2019

This weekend's planned strikes at Heathrow airport have been suspended, Unite the union has said.

More than 4,000 members of staff at Britain's busiest airport were set to strike on Friday and Saturday in a row over pay.

But the industrial action will not take place while workers vote on a new pay offer, it was announced today.

The union said they "would not be revealing the details of the offer until its members involved in the ongoing pay dispute have had an opportunity to consider and vote on the new package."

Strikes planned for August 5 and 6 and August 23 and 24 are still set to go ahead.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We are pleased that Unite have decided to put our offer to our colleagues and to pause industrial action on 26 and 27 July. We welcome this outcome, as will thousands of passengers, whose holidays will now go to plan this weekend.

“The proposed deal provides significantly above inflation pay rises for all colleagues.

"We believe this offer is rewarding and importantly gives our colleagues long term wage certainty and job security.

“Passengers are advised to keep in touch with their airlines for the latest information on their flight and follow our Twitter and Facebook accounts for further updates.”

Heathrow said its latest offer is worth 7.3% over two-and-a-half years, adding that the basic starting salary of the airport's new security officers is £23,153 excluding additional allowances such as shift pay and bonus payments

The pay package is above RPI inflation, higher than the pay increases recently offered to public sector staff and Heathrow's own managerial staff of 2.4%, said Heathrow.

The airport added it will operate throughout any industrial action in accordance with Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority regulations.

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