Luton airport staff to strike for 12 days over 'heavy handed' shift changes
The airport claims disruption will be minimal
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Your support makes all the difference.Luton Airport staff will strike for 12 consecutive days starting on Thursday 23 May.
Security guards responsible for searches, baggage checks and general security will walk out until 8.59pm on Monday 3 June.
The union Unite claims strikes staged earlier this month caused “significant delays” at Britain’s fifth busiest airport.
Union members are striking over “heavy-handed” changes to shift patterns that mean around 120 guards will end up working 15 extra days a year and will only get nine weekends off annually.
Unite is claiming that staff recruitment at Luton Airport has not increased in-line with passenger numbers – which hit a record 16.6 million last year – putting the burden on existing security guards to cover the shortfall.
The union is calling for the new shift patterns to be suspended to allow time for further talks.
Unite regional officer, Jeff Hodge said: “The airport is trying to force their staff to work significantly more unsocial hours. Workers will only get nine weekends a year and will have to work an extra 15 days a year.
“Unite has notified Luton Airport that the workers are planning 12 days of strike action which include the bank holiday weekend.
“Unite believes the recruitment of security staff has not matched increasing passenger numbers and the airport is heaping the burden on its existing staff.
“The workers are standing firm and are determined to ensure the airport treats them fairly. The airport must suspend the implementation of the new shift pattern to allow further talks. It’s time for management to get around the negotiating table to reach a fair deal.”
Luton Airport claims disruption to passengers will be minimal despite industrial action.
“We would like to reassure passengers that this strike involves only a small number of our security staff,” said a spokesperson.
“During previous action by the same group of Unite members earlier this month, there was no disruption to passengers with average wait times of five minutes.
“We have the same robust contingency plans in place this time. The new shift, which was voted for by affected staff, was introduced to address an imbalance where some security officers were working less than their contracted hours.
“We remain open to further discussions with Unite.”
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