In an effort to protest their wages, over 1,400 security guards at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) intend to go on strike for eight days in May 2023.
The following days are targeted for industrial action by the security officers, who are all members of Unite, one of the largest unions in the UK: May 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, as well as again on May 25, 26, and 27.
Two long weekends will be affected by the dates: the Royal coronation on May 6, 2023, and the Spring Bank Holiday on May 29, 2023. “Yet again, we have a chief executive in John Holland-Kaye who thinks it is acceptable to boost his earnings by an eye-watering 88%, from £800,000 to a staggering £1.5 million,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham in a statement and a Tweet.
Graham continued, “With additional employees being balloted and disruption expected to persist over the summer, this issue is bound to worsen. However, this issue is a direct outcome of Heathrow’s obstinate unwillingness to make an offer that matches our members’ expectations. Strikes next month will only worsen the situation for airport travelers.
Our members have made quite clear that they want a sizable, ongoing pay raise. The financial challenges that our members are dealing with on a daily basis will not be relieved by a tiny one-time lump sum payment, according to Wayne King, the Unite regional coordinating officer.
“Our members struggle to make ends meet while the CEO lives the extravagant lifestyle of a millionaire. It’s about necessity, not greed, King continued.
Over Easter, the 1,400 security guards went on a 10-day strike as well, according to the union, forcing the cancellation of “hundreds” of flights.
London Heathrow, meanwhile, informed Travel Weekly that it would not permit Unite to obstruct the flow of tourists into the UK “during such a crucial period for the country.”
The majority of the 2,200 attendees at the Royal Coronation are likely to be dignitaries and world leaders who will travel to London from all across the world.
