Heads up if you're flying out of London Luton Airport today, August 30th! There's a bit of a hold-up as some of the airport staff have decided to take a stand.
Three groups from different companies—those cool people who handle your luggage on the ground, the team that ensures the airport stays squeaky clean, and the folks who manage the car park—are striking today. They're rallying together for better pay and improved work conditions.
Unite, the union representing these workers, gave everyone a heads-up that delays and disruptions are pretty much guaranteed at Luton Airport today. Specifically, over 100 workers from GH London, the team that helps out budget airline Wizz Air with their ground services, will be on a 24-hour strike. Joining them are the cleaning crew from Saase Limited and the parking squad from APCOA.
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| Photo: Chrispictures | Shutterstock |
Sharon Graham, the big boss of Unite, had this to say: "Flights are going to face some hiccups at Luton Airport. Honestly, this all boils down to how these companies treat their staff. We're standing up for better job security, fair pay, and overall good vibes at the workplace."
And brace yourselves, because the GH London team has two more strikes planned—on September 6th and 13th. If you're near the Airport Way Roundabout between 6 in the morning and noon on those days, you might spot their picket lines.
A heads-up for Wizz Air passengers: your flights might be the most affected. If you have a flight booked, maybe set off a bit earlier and pack some extra patience. Word on the street (or from the analytics team at Cirium) is that close to 80,000 passengers could be in for a longer airport stay over the three strike days.
But not to worry too much! London Luton Airport is on top of things. They've said, "We've got backup plans ready to roll, and we're doing our best to make sure passengers won't feel the heat."
So, what's the beef?
Earlier this month, there was a bit of a fallout with GH London. Unite mentioned some not-so-great stuff about them, like allegedly misusing CCTV to snoop on workers during their breaks, having a bit of a heavy hand when it comes to disciplining certain staff, and not being punctual with the paychecks.
Jeff Hodge from Unite weighed in, saying, "We tried talking it out with these companies, but they weren't really coming to the party with offers that our members felt were fair."
As for the cleaners from Saase, they're hoping for a pay bump. They recently said "no thanks" to a pay raise offer that didn't even match the rate of inflation. They currently earn £10.90 (or about $13.75) an hour. The car park team from APCOA, including those handling valet parking and driving buses, is in the same boat, having also turned down a similar low-ball pay raise offer.
Safe travels, everyone! And maybe pack a snack if you're headed to Luton Airport soon.
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