The threat of strikes by ground handlers at Heathrow over New Year has ended after workers accepted an improved pay offer.
More than 400 ground handlers employed by Menzies had planned to strike between December 29 and the early hours of January 1.
The dispute involved workers operating from Heathrow terminals 2, 3 and 4, and Unite members had previously rejected a 4% pay rise backdated to May and then a further 6.5% pay increase from January 1.
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The staff had initially planned a 72-hour walkout on December 16, but plans were called off at the eleventh hour when an improved pay offer was put to a member ballot, which has now been accepted.
Under the newly accepted offer, workers will receive a 9.5% pay increase backdated to May 2022 and then a further 1% increase from January 2023.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an excellent result for our members at Menzies. By taking a stand and acting in unity, they have achieved a dramatically improved pay increase.
“This victory further underlines how Unite’s relentless focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of its members is paying direct financial dividends for workers.”
Unite regional officer Kevin Hall said: “Unite made it clear from the outset that we believed that Menzies could afford to make our members a fair offer and that proved to be the case.
“Unite will now be building on this dispute to continue to ensure that our members receive fair pay increases in the future.”