Talks Broke Down Monday, Labor Action Planned For Friday

The union representing baggage handlers at Heathrow Airport predicts that delays to aircraft taking off and passengers disembarking can be expected on Friday, as ground handlers are set to strike for 24 hours at three Heathrow terminals in a dispute about pay.

Talks between Unite, the country’s largest union, which represents more than 500 ground handlers, and the management of ASIG broke down Monday over the delayed 2013 pay award which the union says should have been implemented 14 months ago. ASIG is a subsidiary of BBA, the largest ground handler at Heathrow.

According to a union news release, the strike will run from 00.01 on Friday for 24 hours and the airlines affected will be at Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Ground handling staff cover such duties as check-in and baggage handling, vital to the smooth running of Heathrow, which is in the top three of the world’s busiest airports.

ASIG had offered a 5.5 per cent pay increase over two years, which Unite said was unacceptable, given the soaring cost of living.  "The prospect of incipient chaos for thousands of passengers should concentrate the minds of management and get them around the table again to negotiate a fair settlement," said Unite regional officer Michelle Braveboy.

“While the company was awarded the privilege of being the main ground handler at Terminal 2 and has grown since 2013 by winning many new contracts, it has forgotten the staff who have contributed so greatly to that success.

“We are still negotiating on the 2013 pay award which should have been paid in July last year and are now having to negotiate a two-year deal as this year’s anniversary date has already passed.”

Unite said that the company’s foot dragging was compounded by the decline in staffing levels, the increase in overtime that employees notch up and customer-facing pressure when the baggage moving equipment fails.

FMI: www.unitetheunion.org, www.asig.com