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One of two remaining Gatwick strikes suspended

One of two strikes due to start later this week at Gatwick has been postponed.

The Unite union suspended the action his weekend by workers employed by Wilson James, which operates passenger assistance at the airport, following a “greatly improved” pay offer.

Suspension of the industrial action will allow members to vote on the new offer.

If members agree the Wilson James offer it will mean that seven separate disputes at the airport have been resolved without any strike action.

But a strike involving staff employed by ground handling company Red Handling is still due to go ahead. 

Further talks were held at the weekend and a further offer was made but it is thought that it is not likely to meet member expectations, according to Unite. 

The result of the ballot will be known on Thursday, shortly before the strike is due to begin at 00:01 on Friday, with the walk out ending at 23:59 on Monday, August 21.

If the Red Handling strike goes ahead, it will affect the ground handling for Norse Atlantic, Norwegian, Delta, TAP Air Portugal, and Saudi. 

Unite believes the initial four-day strike will affect 216 flights and 45,000 passengers. Further action is scheduled over the August bank holiday weekend.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Gatwick’s passengers planning to fly with one of the affected airlines will be rightly angry and confused over how every other dispute at the airport has been resolved, but this one hasn’t been. 

“This is due to Red Handling’s failure to make an offer in line with other employers at the airport.”

Unite regional officer Dominic Rothwell said: “Strikes will inevitably cause serious delays and disruption across Gatwick. 

“Unite remains willing to negotiate, provided Red Handling is prepared to significantly improve its offer.”

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