Heathrow assistance workers’ strike threat lifted 

The threat of strikes by around 800 Heathrow workers who assist passengers with restricted mobility have been suspended due to an improved pay offer.

The Unite union will be balloting the workers on the new offer from employer Wilson James over the coming days.

Industrial action due to run from for five days from today (Monday) will not take place.

Between 4,000 and 6,000 passengers with restricted mobility pass through Heathrow every day, according to the union estimates.

The workers had argued that their pay was 10% less than colleagues at Gatwick doing the same job.

Around 500 workers began strike action in April with the number of staff taking industrial action swelling since then to approximately 800. A second round of strikes took place in May.

Unite regional officer Martin West said: “Following an improved offer from Wilson James, Unite has suspended strikes in order to ballot its members on the new offer.”