Firm at centre of Gatwick Easter strike threat ‘confident’ of resolving dispute

The company at the centre of a dispute threatening Easter disruption at Gatwick has insisted its contingency planning will allow for “safe and timely travel” over the bank holiday weekend.

The Unite union has called for strike action from Good Friday, continuing each day over the Easter weekend until the early hours of Tuesday, April 22.

More than 100 staff working for Red Handling, including baggage handlers and flight dispatchers, are set to walk out causing “major disruption”. 

They include those working as baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers for the airlines Norwegian, Delta Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal and Air Peace. The staff handle about 50 flights a day at the airport.

The dispute centres on “several issues” including pensions not being paid, according to Unite.

However, in a statement released almost a week after the strike action was announced, a spokesperson for Red Handling said: “We have responded positively and fully to all issues raised by Unite on behalf of its members and are working hard to address the pensions issues as quickly as possible.

“We have inherited a complex pensions scenario which has resulted in a small humber of delayed payments for a small number of staff.

“We have committed to ensuring that all those payments are resolved by 10 May, with staff concerned aware of these timescales.

“We are working to come to an agreement with Unite on all outstanding matters where they do not pose a financial or operational risk to the business.”

They added: “We are working with all the stakeholders and feel confident in finding a resolution. 

“We are also confident on our contingency plans to support safe and timely travel over the Easter weekend.”

The company spokesperson noted that recent issues, involving “non-traditional” banks “that have taken slightly longer to process payments” affecting a “very small number” of employees had been resolved.

They also pointed out that Red Handling implemented a 22% pay rise in the past two years, “surpassing many of our competitors” and introduced extra leave days and double-time pay for those working on “select" public holidays.

“While these improvements benefit our employees and are aimed at boosting staff morale, they also need to be done in a way that ensures the long-term success of the business,” the spokesperson said.

A Gatwick spokesperson previously said: “We are supporting the airlines impacted, who hold the contracts directly with Red Handling, with their contingency plans and are hopeful a resolution can be reached ahead of the proposed industrial action.”