Bryan HayHeathrow Airport, the UK’s largest airport, is bracing for major disruptions after management’s decision to outsource hundreds of jobs as part of a cost-cutting initiative. Nearly 800 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will participate in a strike from 00:01 on Tuesday, 7 May until 23:59 on Monday, 13 May, in protest against the outsourcing of key services.
The strike action comes after Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) announced plans to outsource passenger services, trolley operations, and campus security, affecting workers responsible for assisting travelers, managing trolleys, and securing the airport campus. Unite has criticized HAL for not following proper consultation procedures and unilaterally deciding on outsourcing, which is expected to take effect by 1 June.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham stated, “Heathrow Airport’s actions are deplorable, it is raking in massive profits for the bosses while trying to squeeze every last penny out of its workforce. Unite is fully focussed on defending its members’ jobs, pay, and conditions and our members at Heathrow will receive the union’s unrelenting support during this dispute.”
The union has also raised concerns over the potential security risks and job losses associated with the outsourcing, which aims to save HAL £40 million. Furthermore, the move has been met with additional frustration as it contradicts a previous agreement made last summer to bring all security guard roles in-house.
Unite regional coordinating officer Wayne King highlighted the implications of the strike, saying, “Strike action will inevitably cause widespread disruption across the airport, leading to delays and disruption. However, this is a dispute that HAL has brought on itself.”
The outsourcing dispute at Heathrow coincides with separate strike actions by Unite members at AFS Ltd, an airline refueling company, further complicating the situation for the airport and its customers.
