Union warns of half-term strikes at Gatwick

Strikes at Gatwick Airport could lead to delayed or cancelled flights over the May half-term, a union has warned.

Plane refuellers from Redline Oil Services, who work for airlines including easyJet, are planning industrial action over pay, Unite said.

EasyJet said no strike action had been confirmed but it had contingency plans in place so it did not expect any impact.

Gatwick said it was "aware" of the strikes and was "working closely with both parties, and our airlines, to minimise impacts to passengers", adding it hoped a resolution was reached before that.

Unite said the refuellers' strike was set to overlap with staff from another company, Red Handling, where over 100 baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers were due to walk out again.

Some union members working for the ground handling company walked out over Easter weekend over pensions.

The affected airlines were Air Mauritius, Air Peace, Delta, Ethiopian Airlines, Norwegian, and TAP - although there were no reported delays.

Unite said Red Handling members were set to strike again on 11, 18, 25 May and 2 June.

It said Redline members were set to strike from 16 May until 20 May and 23 May until 27 May.

The dispute was over "missing and incorrect pension payments", the union added.

General secretary Sharon Graham said: "Workers at both companies have had enough of poor pay offers and appalling treatment from their employers and it is little surprise they are taking strike action."

The union said agency workers covered the last strikes and people who walked out were put on "unsatisfactory shifts" or required to take back-to-work interviews.

Unite regional officer David Taylor said the way workers had been treated was a "disgrace".

Red Handling and Redline Oil and have been contacted for comment.

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