Heathrow strikes: Airport travel update as survey indicates ‘exodus’ of staff

Heathrow said it is “operating as normal and security has been free flowing” amid strikes by security staff, as a new survey suggests as many as half are unsure whether they will continue working at the airport.

Ten days of action among security staff working in Terminal 5 began on March 31, as members of the Unite union voted for strikes due to a dispute over pay and conditions.

To last until April 9, Easter Sunday, Unite regional coordinating officer Wayne King previously said the action “will undoubtedly result in severe delays and disruption to passengers across the airport but this dispute is a direct result of Heathrow Airport’s stubborn refusal to pay its workers fairly”.

The airport has however said that, as of April 5, it has been “operating as normal and security has been free flowing in all terminals since the start of the strike last Friday”.

A statement from Heathrow continued: “We have a good plan in place for the remainder of the period. BA cancelled some flights in advance to reduce demand in T5 (16 round-trip flights a day to short-haul destinations with high frequencies). Passengers were contacted about this last Monday and there are no on-the-day cancellations as a result of strikes at Heathrow.

“Any last-minute cancellations are an airline decision that could relate to strikes elsewhere, weather at outstations or technical difficulties with their aircraft or crew.”

‘Exodus of security officers’

Unites says a survey it has conducted of its members at the airport indicates there is to be a “shock exodus of security officers”.

According to the union, the survey, involving more than 750 security officers, revealed one in three are planning on leaving their jobs within the next six months, while almost half of respondents are unsure whether they will continue working at Heathrow.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The treatment of security guards at Heathrow is leading to their mass exodus. This survey reveals that many have had enough of gruelling shift work for low pay and are planning to leave.

“Heathrow can well afford to put forward a satisfactory pay offer to our members and this survey clearly demonstrates that is in the airport’s interests to do so. How can Heathrow justify a pay rise from £800,000 to £1.5 million for its CEO while they insist on keeping their own workers on poverty pay?

“Unite will continue to defend workers and ensure they win the pay rises they deserve.”

In response to the survey and the strikes, a Heathrow spokesperson: “Our contingency plans have kept the airport operating normally with security free flowing throughout. We will continue to deliver for our passengers and will not let Unite ruin hard-earned holidays. Heathrow is a good employer.

“We know a majority of colleagues do not support these strikes and want to accept the 10% pay increase on the table – Unite simply refuses to allow them to vote on it."