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Baggage scanners at Stansted set for Bank Holiday weekend strike

Baggage-scanning staff at Stansted Airport are to strike during the Bank Holiday weekend following a vote over pay cuts.


GMB members voted in favour of strike action and said pay cuts were not acceptable to members. The strike is set to take place between August 23 and 26.


Members were 92% in favour of strike action over the pay cuts for staff employed to screen checked-in baggage before it goes into the holds of aircraft at the airport.


Mitie, who employ the GMB members, imposed pay cuts from June which included a cut in premium rates for night work and overtime by 3.5% and increased pay rates by 2%.


GMC said the action would be taken between 3.30am and 6am and 3.30pm and 6pm each day.


Gary Pearce, GMB regional officer, said “Mitie are expecting GMB members to agree to the removal of premium rates for working nights or overtime worth 3.5% to pay for a pay rise of 2%.


“In spite of months of talks telling the company this was not acceptable to our members they went ahead and imposed these pay cuts from June.


“GMB members have rejected this imposition. They have now voted overwhelmingly for strike action.


“GMB as always is available to have discussions – but only the restoration of these premium rates will avert these stoppages.”


A spokesman for Mitie said: “We hope that we will be able to reach an agreement with the union, but if we can’t full contingency plans will be put into place to ensure any disruption to passengers is kept to a minimum.”

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