Unite ends strike action at Gatwick Airport

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Unite ends strike action at Gatwick Airport

The threat of strike action by ground handlers at Gatwick Airport over the bank holiday weekend has ended, the Unite union has said.

The union said it had secured better pay offers for its members and so had halted the industrial action.

Unite said the deal was a tremendous achievement as the deal was accepted before any strikes took place, so no customers were affected.

The airport said no further industrial action has been planned at the airport.

Unite said its ground handling firm, Red Handling, had accepted a 14% pay increase and have also been promised improved overtime rates and better sick pay.

The union has also agreed a deal with Wilson James, which helps passengers with mobility issues boarding planes and getting around Gatwick.

Wilson James' workers have agreed a 16% pay increase, a rise to overtime pay starting next month, and a commitment to negotiate sick pay and shift patterns.

Unite said it has already secured better pay offers for six other third-party aircraft companies: ASC, ICTS, DHL Gatwick Direct, DHL Services Ltd, GGS and Menzies Aviation.

The pay campaign at Gatwick Airport this summer was one of the clearest examples yet of Unite's relentless focus on jobs, pay and conditions, Graham said.