Unite the union has confirmed 31 days of strike action beginning on June 24 with walkouts involving more than 2,000 security officers at Heathrow.
For the first time security officers based at Terminal Three, who voted for strike action last week, will join colleagues from Terminal Five and campus security.
The union said the walkout by workers at Terminal Three will affect airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Qatar, United, American and Delta.
Walkouts at Terminal Five will “heavily affect” British Airways’ summer schedule, it added.
The union described the announcement as a “major escalation” and said the dispute could escalate further in the coming weeks.
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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is putting Heathrow on notice that strike action at the airport will continue until it makes a fair pay offer to its workers.
“Make no mistake, our members will receive the union’s unflinching support in this dispute.
“HAL [Heathrow Airport Limited] has got its priorities all wrong. This is an incredibly wealthy company, which this summer is anticipating bumper profits and an executive pay bonanza. It’s also expected to pay out huge dividends to shareholders, yet its workers can barely make ends meet and are paid far less than workers at other airports.”
Unite said the workers have rejected a “below inflation” pay offer of 10.1%, adding that the true rate of inflation, RPI, is currently 11.4%.
Wayne King, Unite regional co-ordinating officer, added: “Delays, disruption and cancellations will be inevitable as a result of the strike action.
“The company has been given numerous opportunities to make an offer that meets our members’ expectations and so avoid another period of damaging strike action. Sadly, HAL has stubbornly refused to take this opportunity.”
The workers will be on strike on June 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30; July 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 31 July; and August 4, 5, 6 , 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, and 27.
These dates include Eid festival (June 28, 29 and 30), the beginning of the school holidays (July 21, 22, 23 and 24) and the August bank holiday (August 24, 25, 26 and 27).
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Passengers can rest assured that we will do everything we can to minimise strike disruption so they can enjoy their hard-earned summer holidays.
“Unite has already tried and failed to disrupt the airport with unnecessary strikes on some of our busiest days and we continue to build our plans to protect journeys during any future action.
“The simple fact remains that the majority of colleagues do not support Unite’s strikes.
“There is a two-year inflation-beating pay rise ready for colleagues, if only Unite would allow them to have a say. We will continue talks with Unite about resolving this issue.”
Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of The Advantage Travel Partnership, said news of the strikes was “really disappointing” and will create “uncertainty” for holidaymakers.
“These new strikes and the ongoing disruption to travel in the UK with ongoing rail and border force strikes continues to have a detrimental effect on how travellers view the travel industry and the plans they make,” she added.
“Hopefully, robust contingency plans are being considered to minimise any potential disruption and conversations between Heathrow airport and the unions are on-going to find a suitable outcome.
“We’re hopeful that recent strikes have shown that the disruption has been minimal, but it doesn’t stop people from worrying and getting anxious.”
She said agents are advising clients to prepare as much as possible for longer wait times, use e-gates where possible and check airport websites before travelling to see if the strikes will affect their journeys.
Picture credit: Tom Eversley/Shutterstock.com
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