LONDON (Reuters) – The Unite trade union announced on Monday that some of the planned strikes by baggage handlers and other workers at Gatwick, Britain’s second-largest airport, during the peak summer travel period have been suspended or cancelled.
Earlier this month, the union had warned that airlines such as easyJet, TUI, and British Airways could face disruptions due to two sets of four-day strikes scheduled for late July and early August involving 950 workers.
However, improved pay offers have prompted DHL workers, who provide services to easyJet, to completely cancel their walkouts after voting in favor of accepting a 15% pay rise, according to the union.
Workers for Menzies and ASC are currently considering improved pay offers, raising the possibility that they may also cancel their planned strike action if they accept the new deal. At present, ASC workers have not yet suspended their walkouts, while Menzies has suspended some of them.
Meanwhile, another group of workers contracted by GGS has decided to suspend strikes between July 28 and August 1 to allow negotiations to continue. However, they are still scheduled to walk out on August 4-8.
“Talks with GGS are progressing in a positive direction,” stated Unite in a Monday statement.
In addition to the threat of strike action, the travel industry in Britain is also grappling with difficulties caused by wildfires in Rhodes, Greece, a popular tourist destination. Airlines are working hard to arrange extra services to bring back stranded customers.
(Reporting by Sarah Young in London, Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D’Souza and Kylie MacLellan)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
