Heathrow has vowed to keep operating “as normal” by drafting in 750 staff and management as cover as security staff strike from today (Thursday) after the break down of last-minute pay talks.
The walkout by 1,400 security officers coincides with the airport expecting high passenger numbers due to the King’s coronation this weekend.
The industrial action is scheduled for May 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10 and then again on May 25, 26, 27, ahead of school half-term in England and the spring bank holiday.
The eight days of industrial action, labelled as ‘May mayhem’ by the Unite union, could affect more than one million passengers, according to aviation data firm Cirium.
The Unite members involved are based at British Airways’ Terminal 5 hub together with others responsible for searching all personnel and vehicles entering the Heathrow campus.
The latest round of action follows an initial walkout during the Easter holiday period which the union claimed led to hundreds of flights being cancelled.
Unite confirmed that strikes planned from today will go ahead as planned, after last minute talks at the conciliation service, Acas, broke down.
The union released results of research which it said revealed that security officers at Heathrow are being paid £6,000 a year less than their counterparts at other London airports.
“This more than justifies the Heathrow workers’ strike action – Heathrow is the poverty pay citadel of London airports,” Unite claimed.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Passengers can be reassured that they will travel as normal.
“This is an important time for the country, and we will not let these unnecessary strikes disrupt journeys.
“We have activated our contingency plans and deployed 750 additional colleagues and the entire management team who will be on hand in the terminals providing assistance to passengers.”
They claimed: “The majority of colleagues do not support strike action.
“Colleagues could have an inflation-matching pay increase for two years – 10% this year and a CPI-linked increase in 2024, as well as a £1,150 lump sum but instead they’re left empty-handed by Unite’s refusal to allow members to vote on the offer.”
The offer made by the airport, which lost more than £4 billion during he pandemic and remains loss-making, is on top of a 4% rise plus a £2,000 lump sum payment last year.
But Unite said its analysis showed that security officers at Stansted and Gatwick are paid between £5,000-£6,000 more than Heathrow, while workers at much smaller Luton airport are paid more than £500 more.
Heathrow security officers receive basic pay of £26,000, which is boosted by a £4,000 shift allowance.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Heathrow prides itself on being the UK’s premium airport – it is bigger and handles more flights and cargo than any other.
“So it is frankly indefensible that security officer pay is far lower than other London airports. Imagine, the so-called ‘best in Britain’ is actually a citadel for poverty pay. How can this be justified?”