Heathrow Airport baggage workers are planning to carry out two sets of four-day strikes in February (February 2 and February 22), due to a disagreement over proposed pay increases.
The Global Baggage Solutions employees, whose job it is to locate lost baggage, did not receive a pay rise in 2019 and declined a raise of 32p per hour this year.
The workers are members of the union Unite, which has said is seeking an increase in pay to ensure all workers receive the London living wage of £10.75 an hour and senior handlers receive a higher payment.
Regional officer Clare Keogh said: “Heathrow passengers need to be aware that if their baggage is mislaid, it could disappear forever while our members are on strike.
“Our members are taking strike action as a last resort as life is becoming a daily struggle to survive on poverty pay rates.
“There is still time for strike action to be avoided if Global Baggage Solutions is prepared to make a realistic pay offer and return to the negotiating table.”
Meanwhile, Unite members at Heathrow ground handling firm Vanderlande Industries started voting on Friday on whether to strike in a separate dispute over a pay.
Unite said it represents around 80 Vanderlande workers who are responsible for loading freight on and off IAG planes, including those flying under the British Airways, Air Lingus and Iberia brands.
