Hopes that Easter disruption at Heathrow could be avoided have been dashed after 11th hour talks to prevent a strike by security staff broke down.
The Unite union confirmed that the 10 days of action involving more than 1,400 security officers will go ahead as planned from today (Friday).
Last-ditch talks failed to resolve the current pay dispute as the airport operator Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) failed to “substantially improve” its offer and was only prepared to offer a lump sum payment as an addition to the current deal, Unite claimed.
The strike involves security officers at Terminal 5, used exclusively by British Airways, and Campus security guards, who are responsible for checking all cargo that enters the airport.
“Huge disruption of all Heathrow flights will result,” Unite warned.
Picket lines are set to be in place across Heathrow throughout the 10 days of continuous strike action until 11.59pm on Easter Sunday.
Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said last night: “Heathrow airport has thrown away the opportunity to avoid strikes.
“Unite went into today’s meeting looking for an offer our members could accept. Unfortunately it seems HAL went in with no intention of avoiding industrial action.
“The strike action will undoubtedly result in severe delays and disruption to passengers across the airport but this dispute is a direct result of Heathrow airport’s stubborn refusal to pay its workers fairly.”
The airport previously put forward a 10% pay rise for security officers and urged Unite to discuss implementing it.
But Heathrow had planned for the possibility that the talks would break down is focussed on implementing contingency plans to keep the airport open and operational throughout the strike.
BA has already been forced to cancel around 32 daily flights after it was instructed by the airport to cut its schedule by 5% on strike days.
Heathrow said: “The airport will remain open and operational but the strikes may affect the journeys of some passengers planning to travel during this period. You can check the status of your flight with your airline for the latest information.”
“We expect the airport to be busy during this period and will have additional ‘Here to Help’ teams available to assist passengers.
“While in the terminals, if you need assistance, please speak to a colleague. Please bear with our teams as they work hard to get you on your way during this busy travel period.”
Passengers will only be allowed to travel through security with two items of hand baggage on strike days. Handbags and laptop bags count as a piece of hand baggage, according to the airport.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We will not let these unnecessary strikes impact the hard-earned holidays of our passengers.
“Our contingency plans will keep the airport operating as normal throughout. We are deploying 1,000 additional colleagues and the entire management team who will be in the terminals providing assistance to passengers over the busy Easter getaway.
“We know that the majority of colleagues do not support strike action. Following further talks, Unite has again refused to take an improved offer to members, despite the PCS union wanting to do so.
“Colleagues could have an above inflation 10% pay increase back-dated to 1st January and a lump sum payment of £1,150, but instead they’re left empty-handed by Unite’s actions.
“The only reason Unite refuse to take the improved offer to members is because they fear they’ll back it.”
BA said: “Due to the industrial action being taken by Heathrow airport staff, the number of security lanes in operation will be reduced.
“Our First Wing will be closed and Fast Track will be reduced. We expect that it will take longer than usual to pass through security and we will have additional BA colleagues available to support customers.
“As we are expecting more customers to check in their bags than usual, please ensure all baggage stays within the permitted weight allowance.”
- Heathrow is scheduled to see 6,253 departures, equating to more than 1.3 million seats over the strike period, according to flights data firm Cirium.
BA accounts for 3,185 or 51% of all departures, representing almost 650,000 seats.
But this figure dropped to 3,106 departuresin the last week, excluding last minute cancellations, equating to a loss of over 12,700 seats.
Edinburgh is projected to see the highest number of BA flights during the strike period (103 departures), followed by Glasgow (78), Barcelona (75), Amsterdam (72), and New York JFK (70).
More: Last-ditch talks agreed in bid to avert 10-day Heathrow strike