- Heathrow security staff strike postponed pending pay offer vote
- Offer includes significant pay increases and inflation-linked raises
- Strikes could still occur if offer is rejected
Unite security workers are voting on a “improved” salary deal, postponing the June 24–25 strike.
The upcoming weekend’s Heathrow security staff demonstrations have been postponed as the union Unite evaluates a pay offer.
Last week, officers at the largest airport in the United Kingdom announced an intensification of strike action, with walkouts occurring nearly every weekend from mid-June to early August.
2,000 employees were scheduled to strike on June 24 and 25, but the union has called off the walkouts as a “gesture of goodwill” as employees vote on an “improved” pay offer.
The Unite members could still strike for 29 days during the summer if the union rejects the latest proposal.
The offer is believed to include a 10% pay increase retroactive to January 1, effective with employees’ July pay stubs; an additional 11.5% pay increase beginning in October; and an inflation-linked pay increase for 2024.
Terminal 3 and 5 staff vote on the offer from Tuesday, June 13 to Friday, June 23. Also campus security personnel who inspect all workers and their vehicles.
A spokesperson for Heathrow stated, “We are pleased to have reached a pay agreement that unions recommend their members embrace.
“This is a fantastic deal for coworkers, as it provides them with two years of guaranteed pay increases above inflation. Also additional benefits and assurances that they requested.
“We encourage them to accept the agreement so that everyone can have certainty and the retroactive pay rise that so many have awaited.”
If the strikes proceed, the airport anticipates no flight cancellations because previous strikes “failed to disrupt” operations.
