Luton airport strike: Baggage handlers’ industrial action to disrupt Wizz Air flights
The week-long strike is slated to start on 3 March
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Your support makes all the difference.A week-long baggage handlers’ strike at Luton airport is due to start on 3 March, affecting 42 routes across Europe.
Baggage handlers and check-in staff employed by GH London Ground Handling voted in favour of industrial action following a pay freeze.
The company provides ground handling services at Luton for low-cost airline Wizz Air, which has 42 routes from there to central and eastern Europe.
If it goes ahead, the strike will run from 6pm on Sunday 3 March until 5.59pm on 10 March.
“Unite has been calling for meaningful talks with GH London since the beginning of 2018,” Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said in a statement.
“Luton Airport is one of the busiest airports in the UK.
“A strike by baggage handlers and check-in staff will cause considerable disruption to flights.
“It is time for GH London to recognise the contribution workers make by increasing pay so they can keep up with the rising cost of living.”
He added that he hopes to get constructive talks underway to resolve the dispute.
Wizz Air is advising passengers to check the status of their flights on the airline’s app and website.
“Should the strike go ahead, Wizz Air flights from London Luton Airport may be disrupted,” Wizz Air said in a statement.
“Whilst this planned strike is beyond our control, we will work hard to ensure that we minimise the impact on our customers.
“We strongly recommend that all customers flying from London Luton between the above dates check the Flight Status feature on our app or website for real time information. Wizz Air sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused by this regrettable strike action by GH London Ground Handling Services employees.”
A London Luton Airport spokesman said: “Our passengers are our number one priority and we are working with the airline and the ground handling company to ensure they have robust contingency plans in place to keep disruption to a minimum should the industrial action go ahead.”
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