Families are warned they face Easter getaway travel chaos as security guards at Heathrow Airport start a 10-day strike in a row over pay.
The strikes will go ahead after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a pay dispute, with action set to disrupt school holiday travel with half term beginning today for many.
Around 1,400 members of Unite will walk out for 10 days, including most of the Easter weekend including Good Friday.
The union said talks broke down because Heathrow Airport Limited failed to substantially improve its pay offer.
Heathrow Airport is ‘operating as normal’ despite strikes by security guards, the airport’s chief executive John Holland-Kaye said today as strikes went ahead.
Passengers queuing to go through security in departures at Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport last year
Speaking on Sky News, Mr Holland-Kaye said: ‘I’m here in Terminal Five which is the only terminal that voted for strike action and you’ll see it’s operating as normal.
‘We have a lot of colleagues who have come to help us out today – both security officers and managers who are helping out in their purple shirts like me.’
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Heathrow can afford to pay a decent pay rise to its workers.
‘This is a wealthy company which is about to return to bumper profits.
In recent years it’s approved an astronomical rise in salary for its chief executive and paid out dividends to shareholders worth billions.
‘Yet somehow, Heathrow executives seem to think it’s acceptable to offer what amounts to a real-terms pay cut to its security guards and ground staff who are already on poverty pay.
‘Unite has a laser-like focus on our members jobs, pay and conditions, the workforce at Heathrow Airport will receive the union’s unswerving support in this fight for a decent deal.’
Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said those who have gone on strike at Heathrow Airport have not been given a pay increase that reflects the cost of living despite having ‘an exceptionally wealthy employer”.
He told LBC: ‘At the moment they’ve offered 10 per cent which in normal times would be a more than reasonable pay offer, but we’re not in normal times and haven’t been for some time.’
Mr King said the workers ‘just can’t afford it’.
He added: ‘People are missing mortgage payments. They’re asking to defer rent payments.
‘They’re not able to feed their families.
‘They need more money. They just can’t survive on the money that they’re getting.’
Picket lines will be in place across the airport throughout the 10 days of continuous strike action, which ends at 23.59pm on Easter Sunday, April 10.
The strikes involves security officers at Terminal Five, which is used exclusively by British Airways, and campus security guards who are responsible for checking all cargo that enters the airport.
Unite said the strikes will cause disruption to flights, however Heathrow said it has contingency plans to deal with the industrial action.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: ‘We will not let these unnecessary strikes impact the hard-earned holidays of our passengers
‘Our contingency plans will keep the airport operating as normal throughout. ‘We are deploying 1,000 additional colleagues and the entire management team who will be in the terminals providing assistance to passengers over the busy Easter getaway.
‘We know that the majority of colleagues do not support strike action.
Following further talks, Unite has again refused to take an improved offer to members, despite the PCS union wanting to do so.
‘Colleagues could have an above-inflation 10% pay increase back-dated to January 1 and a lump sum payment of £1,150, but instead they’re left empty-handed by Unite’s actions.
‘The only reason Unite refuse to take the improved offer to members is because they fear they’ll back it.’
Heathrow said that as at any busy time, it may take a little longer than usual to get through security during the strikes.
‘Passengers can help us ensure they get the best start to their journeys by checking their flight status with their airline before travelling to the airport, arriving at Heathrow no earlier than two hours before short haul flights and three hours before long haul flights and by being ready for security with their compliant liquids and electronics out of their hand luggage,’ it said in a statement.
