Threat of Heathrow strikes over as Menzies workers accept improved pay offer

The threat of further strike action at Heathrow Airport has ended after workers employed as ground handlers by Menzies at the airport accepted an improved pay offer.

The 400 plus workers, who are employed as ground handlers, took 72 hours of strike action last month. A further 72 hour strike was due to begin on Friday 16 December but was called off at the eleventh hour, due to an improved offer by the company.

The workers have now been balloted on the offer which has been accepted. They will receive an increase of 9.5 per cent backdated to May 2022 and then a further one per cent from January 2023.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an excellent result for our members at Menzies. By taking a stand and acting in unity they have achieved a dramatically improved pay increase.

“This victory further underlines how Unite’s relentless focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of its members is paying direct financial dividends for workers.”

As a consequence of the workers accepting the revised pay deal, the strike action planned to begin on Thursday 29 December has been called off.

Unite regional officer Kevin Hall said: “Unite made it clear from the outset that we believed that Menzies could afford to make our members a fair offer and that proved to be the case.

“Unite will now be building on this dispute to continue to ensure that our members receive fair pay increases in the future.”