Heathrow strikes: Security staff to walk out nearly every weekend this summer
Around 2,000 members of staff are set to walk out for a total of 31 days
ecurity guards at Heathrow airport are to walk out on strike nearly every weekend throughout the school summer holiday period.
Members of union Unite are embroiled in a long-running dispute over pay which has led to previous industrial action.
A series of fresh strikes by security guards at Heathrow airport was announced on Wednesday, which Unite says will see more than 2,000 of its members walk out for 31 days from June 24.
The strike days will fall on June 24-25 and 28-30; July 14-16, 21-24 and 28-31; and August 4-7, 11-14, 18-20 and 24-27.
The walkouts will coincide with both the beginning of the school holidays and the August bank holiday, as well as the majority of summer weekends.
For the first time security officers based at Terminal 3 will join their colleagues from Terminal 5 and campus security who have already taken industrial action.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is putting Heathrow on notice that strike action at the airport will continue until it makes a fair pay offer to its workers.
“Make no mistake, our members will receive the union’s unflinching support in this dispute.
“Heathrow Airport has got its priorities all wrong.
“This is an incredibly wealthy company, which this summer is anticipating bumper profits and an executive pay bonanza.
“It’s also expected to pay out huge dividends to shareholders, yet its workers can barely make ends meet and are paid far less than workers at other airports.”
Heathrow Airport has previously said that it continued to deliver good service during previous strikes, with most passengers waiting less than five minutes, and almost all waiting less than 10 minutes for security.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Passengers can rest assured that we will do everything we can to minimise strike disruption so they can enjoy their hard-earned summer holidays.Unite has already tried and failed to disrupt the airport with unnecessary strikes on some of our busiest days and we continue to build our plans to protect journeys during any future action.
“The simple fact remains that the majority of colleagues do not support Unite’s strikes. There is a two-year inflation-beating pay rise ready for colleagues, if only Unite would allow them to have a say. We will continue talks with Unite about resolving this issue.”