[title]
If you’ve got a holiday lined up for the end of August, listen up –there’s due to be more strikes at Gatwick which could potentially disrupt your getaway.
Baggage screeners are set to walk out on various dates throughout mid-late August which could lead to pretty intense delays getting bags to and from planes. If you thought delays were bad before, just wait until there’s only a few poor souls trying to chuck everyone’s bags inside the correct cargo decks at the nation’s second biggest airport.
The strikes are set to involve handlers employed by ICTS. According to trade union Unite, they are ‘amongst the lowest paid workers at the airport earning just above the minimum wage’. The staff are asking for a pay increase, and the union believes that if this is not granted then the industrial action will ‘intensify’.
Here’s everything we know about the upcoming baggage screening strikes at Gatwick.
When are Gatwick Airport baggage handlers going on strike?
There are currently two periods currently earmarked for strike action: August 22-26, and August 29-September 2.
Which flights and airlines will be impacted?
Unfortunately, as these staff serve the entire airport and are not airline specific, pretty much everyone is going to feel the impact of the strikes. Unite said that ‘all flights out of Gatwick will face disruption during these times’, so whether you’re flying with Ryanair or Emirates, you’ll want to arrive with plenty of time before your scheduled departure time.
The airport has said that it will make an effort to minimise disruption caused by these strikes, saying: ‘We are working with our suppliers to avoid any impacts, and we expect to operate a normal summer holiday flight schedule for our airlines and passengers on these dates’.
Why are there strikes at Gatwick?
Baggage handlers from ICTS believe they are undervalued by their employer, with Unite saying; ‘ICTS has more than enough money to offer these workers a fair pay rise. Not doing so is just corporate greed.’ The union added that ‘ICTS’ Gatwick workers will receive Unite’s complete backing for as long as it takes during their strikes for fair pay’. If a deal is not reached by the end of the striking period, it is expected that more action will follow.
Can I get compensation if a flight is affected by strikes?
Annoyingly, strikes constitute ‘extraordinary circumstances’ and therefore airlines are generally not obligated to pay out if there’s a delay. Because the staff members striking aren’t employed by any airline, the dispute is out of their control. This means it’s generally not their responsibility to refund or compensate for delays. There are some instances where passengers have been able to win compensation for delays caused by airport strikes, but they are not very common.
However, the airline is still expected to fund a hotel stay if you are moved onto a flight on a different day for any reason. Make sure you’re aware of your rights as a passenger if you’re travelling on a planned strike day – you can learn more about what you’re entitled to here.
Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.