Qatar Airways flights to the World Cup have been spared disruption after a group of Heathrow ground handlers accepted a fresh pay deal.
Action by members of the Unite union was due to start today (Friday) in a dispute with employer dnata.
However, three days of strikes have been called off after members accepted an improved offer from the firm.
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Industrial action involving Menzies workers employed in its cargo and trucking sections has also been suspended to allow the workers to be balloted on a “significantly improved” offer.
Unite said: “Due to the dnata and Menzies Cargo strike not going ahead, passengers with Qatar Airways going to the World Cup will not be directly affected by the dispute.”
The agreement came as Qatar Airways unveiled new branding at the roundabout for Heathrow Terminal 4 (pictured) ahead of the tournament kick-off on Sunday.
But the union warned that 350 other ground handlers employed by Menzies would walk out for 72 hours from 4am today, leading to “disruption, delays and cancellation” for flights leaving Heathrow Terminals 2, 3 and 4. Picket lines were due to be set up this morning.
The action will particularly affect Air Canada, American Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Tap Air Portugal, Austrian Airlines, Qantas, Egypt Air, Aer Lingus and Finnair, the union claimed.
Unite regional officer Kevin Hall said: “The strike action will inevitably cause serious delays for passengers at Heathrow but this dispute is entirely of Menzies own making. It has had every opportunity to make our members’ a fair pay offer, but it has stubbornly refused to do so.”
The union accused Menzies of making “derisory” pay offers to ground handlers of below the current real inflation rate of 14.2% (RPI), amounting to a “substantial real terms pay cut”.
Menzies Aviation executive vice president Miguel Gomez Sjunnesson said: “I want to reassure our airline customers and their passengers that we have robust contingency plans in place should Unite elect to continue with unnecessary industrial action, and we are confident our operations will not be impacted.”
The company remained “ready and willing to meet with Unite to hear their concerns and discuss the deal we have agreed with GMB in more detail, which we believe is in the best interest of our employees”.
He added: “Following further discussions this week regarding pay increases for our Heathrow ground handling workforce, we are pleased to have reached a positive position with GMB who represent the majority of this workforce. As a result, GMB members are being balloted with the view that the best possible outcome has been reached.
“Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Unite who continue to be obstructive and push for unnecessary strike action rather than provide any realistic counter offers for consideration, which will benefit no-one and only delay the process.”
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