Proactive Investors - Heathrow Airport staff will strike for 31 days this summer in a “major escalation” of action aimed at securing a pay rise, Unite Union announced on Wednesday.
Some 2,000 security staff will take part in the walkouts, which will include workers from Heathrow’s Terminal Five, as before, and Terminal Three for the first time.
Action had previously been confined to the airport’s fifth terminal, exclusively hitting British Airways (LON:ICAG), though an extension to the third will likely affect Virgin, Emirates, Qatar, United, American and Delta-operated flights.
“Delays, disruption and cancellations will be inevitable as a result of the strike action. But this dispute is completely of Heathrow’s own making,” Unite coordinator Wayne King said.
“Sadly, Heathrow Airport has stubbornly refused to take this opportunity […] to make an offer that meets our members’ expectations.”
Unite members will walk out for five days between June 24 and 30, then again for 11 days between mid and late July, before an intensified 15 days of action throughout August.
Staff are seeking a pay rise in line with the retail price index rate of 11.4%, having rejected an offer of a 10.1% increase previously.
According to Unite, Heathrow workers’ salaries have fallen 24% since 2017 in real terms as a result of rising inflation.
“The dispute could further escalate in the coming weeks,” Unite added.