Striking transport workers are now as much a part of British culture as complaining about the weather or grabbing a cup of tea to kill time at work. So, it won’t surprise you to find out that Heathrow airport is also a centre of industrial action.
But there is some good news. Following a strike by border force workers earlier this week (which ended yesterday, May 2), a second round of action by refuelling staff over the first May Bank Holiday has been called off. Now all you have to worry about is the next round of train strikes.
Here’s everything you need to know about strike action at Heathrow.
When are the Heathrow border strikes?
Heathrow border force workers have already taken place. They happened on four days between April 29 and May 2.
More than 300 members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 walked out, causing longer queues and delays at passport control.
When are Heathrow’s refuelling workers striking?
Refuelling staff were supposed to strike for 72 hours from May 4-6. This action has now been called off.
Which airlines will be affected by the Heathrow strikes?
According to Sky News, this is the full list of airlines which would have been impacted by the refuelling staff walk-out.
- Air Canada
- American Airlines
- United Airlines
- Delta
- Virgin Atlantic
- Japan Airlines
- Emirates
- Qantas
- Elal
- Singapore Airlines
- Korean Airlines
- Air France
- KLM
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Jet Blue
- Lot (Polish)
- Royal Air Maroc
- Middle East Airlines
- Sas (Scandinavian)
- Tap Air Portugal
- Malta Airlines
- DHL
- Aero Mexico
- Latam Airlines
- Air India
- Logan Air
- Bulgarian Air
- Uzbekistan
- China Airlines
- Air Mauritius
- Turkmenistan
- Avianca
- Asiana
- Saudi
- Tianjin Airlines
- Beijing Capital
- Rwanda Air
Why are Heathrow workers striking?
Border force workers downed tools to protest proposed job cuts from the Home Office. The strikes were called by the Public and Commercial Services trade union (PCS), who said: ‘The Home Office should be doing all it can to retain experienced, trained staff — not lose them by introducing an unworkable new roster system.’
Refuelling employees threatened to walk out over ‘drastic cuts’ to terms and conditions for new staff members since January. The staff work for AFS, a joint venture of several fuel companies.
Can I get compensation if a flight is affected by strikes?
Because the upcoming strikes are from airport employees (not airline staff), airlines do not have to pay out compensation if flights are delayed or cancelled.
For cancelled flights, airlines have a duty to either offer an alternative flight or offer a refund.
For delays of two hours or more (for short-haul flights, the delay has to be longer for longer-haul routes), airlines have a duty of care to provide things like refreshments and a means of communication (Wi-Fi, internet data etc).
Is the Heathrow Express affected by the strikes?
The Heathrow Express isn’t expected to be impacted by any of the strike action at Heathrow.
What’s been said about the strikes?
The border force strikes protested working terms and conditions. A new roster system was due to begin on April 29, and after talks left union representatives unsatisfied it was decided that industrial action was needed. In announcing the strike, PCS explained: ‘Members have expressed heartbreak at being forced out of the job that they have undertaken in Border Force for years.’
According to the union’s general secretary, Fran Heathcote: ‘While not everyone will be affected, the changes will disproportionately hit those who are disabled or have caring responsibilities.’
Should the Home Office fail to meet the wishes of PCS, the four-day strike will be followed with a period of work-to-rule until May 18, where staff will do only the bare minimum that they are contractually obliged to do.
The Home Office is not hugely pleased with these measures. A spokesperson said: ‘The changes we are implementing will bring the working arrangements for Border Force Heathrow staff in line with the way staff work at other ports, provide them with more certainty on working patterns, and improve the service to the travelling public.’
Eyes on the skies
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