Stansted workers plan May bank holiday strike as pay deal rejected

Unite members who look after passengers with disabilities at Stansted have revived their strike plans after they rejected a new pay offer.

About 100 workers at ABM will now walk out from May 3-6, coinciding with the first May bank holiday weekend.

The workers had planned to strike on April 17-20 but suspended the walkouts to allow a vote on a last-minute pay offer.

The staff, who escort passengers on and off flights and through the airport, say the offer failed to tackle low pay, according to the union Unite.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “ABM staff do a vital job for passengers at the airport, yet they are struggling with low pay while their employer makes huge profits.

“This situation is unacceptable and workers at ABM continue to have Unite’s full support.”

As well as issues with low pay, workers at ABM say they have had to take on more responsibilities as the number of passengers they work with and flights they deal with have increased.

In January, Stansted saw more than 1.89 million passengers pass through the terminal, up 2% on the same month last year.

Any strikes will cause delays to flights, as it will take longer to board passengers who rely on this service, said the union.

Unite regional officer Steve Edwards said: “Workers at ABM are increasingly given bigger workloads and deserve pay that reflects this.

“Their employer can afford to come back with an offer workers would accept and could end this dispute easily by doing so. But until then, Unite members will strike until their voices are heard.”

An ABM spokesperson commented: “We are disappointed that Unite the Union has confirmed, once again, its intention to take industrial action, including over the bank holiday.

“This follows a shortfall of just two percentage points in the vote on our structured pay increase – an offer that significantly exceeds the current rate of inflation.

“Through comprehensive contingency planning, we will continue delivering services throughout this period with all roles covered, and additional operational and management support in place.

“Our focus is on maintaining safety, operational resilience, and service continuity as far as possible for the passengers who rely on our team every day.

“We remain open to constructive conversation with Unite the Union and hope that a resolution can be reached in the best interests of our employees and the passengers we serve.”