Heathrow: Virgin, Emirates and Qatar airlines terminal to be hit by Unite security staff strikes

Heathrow is set to be impacted by further strikes through June, July and August over pay.

The union Unite will this week serve notice on Heathrow that staff will escalate industrial action over the summer, announcing 33 days of strikes, beginning on June 17.

Workers will join the strike in Terminal Three, which serves airlines including Virgin, Emirates, Qatar, United, American and Delta. Action will continue in Terminal Five, which serves British Airways and cargo, and where 15 days of strikes have already taken place this year.

Unite rejected a 10.1%, saying it is below inflation, along with a £1,150 lump sum and a guarantee of a Consumer Price Index-matching pay increase in 2024.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Passengers can rest assured that we will do everything we can to minimise strike disruption so they can enjoy their hard-earned summer holidays. Unite has already tried and failed to disrupt the airport with unnecessary strikes on some of our busiest days and we continue to build our plans to protect journeys during any future action.

“The simple fact remains that the majority of colleagues do not support Unite’s strikes. There is a two-year inflation-beating pay rise ready for colleagues, if only Unite would allow them to have a say. We will continue talks with Unite about resolving this issue.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is putting Heathrow on notice that strike action at the airport will continue until it makes a fair pay offer to its workers. Make no mistake, our members will receive the union’s unflinching support in this dispute.

“HAL (Heathrow Airport Limited) has got its priorities all wrong. This is an incredibly wealthy company, which this summer is anticipating bumper profits and an executive pay bonanza. It’s also expected to pay out huge dividends to shareholders, yet its workers can barely make ends meet and are paid far less than workers at other airports.”

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said: “Delays, disruption and cancelations will be inevitable as a result of the strike action. But this dispute is completely of HAL’s own making.

“The company has been given numerous opportunities to make an offer that meets our members’ expectations and so avoid another period of damaging strike action. Sadly, HAL has stubbornly refused to take this opportunity.”