Members of the GMB trade union working for CBRE Property Maintenance at Heathrow and Gatwick airports say they are willing to take industrial action over a pay dispute.
The union said members are the “people who do the graft, they are the people that generate the amazing profits that CBRE have seen in the last two years and they are the people who deserve to share in the profits”.
90 per cent of GMB members working for CBRE Property Maintenance at Heathrow and Gatwick airports have said they would be willing to take industrial action against the company following a pay dispute that saw 97 per cent of members reject a two per cent pay rise.
This dispute affects staff at; British Airways Operations Base, Boadicea House, Waterside (British Airways HQ), IAG Cargo, Terminals, and Gatwick. A meeting between CBRE management and GMB officials, is scheduled for 14 June 2019.
Since July 2018 CBRE Property Maintenance staff working on the British Airways contract at the airports have been told that, despite CBRE’s healthy profits, they will not be getting a pay rise. CBRE said that this was because their properties contract with British Airways was up for renewal and until the tender process was completed, a pay rise was impossible.
After originally refusing to recognise and negotiate with GMB, CBRE were eventually forced to accept recognition and begin pay discussions.
However, discussions soon stalled and a consultative ballot resulted in all members saying they were willing to escalate the dispute to ACAS. The threat of ACAS lead to CBRE’s two per cent pay offer, which was not back dated to the July 2018 Pay Review, which was then rejected.
It has also come to light that in March 2019 while CBRE staff were being told they couldn’t have a pay rise, management were being awarded substantial bonuses.
GMB regional organiser, Trevlyn McLeod said: “For far too long CBRE blamed a renewal of their contract with British Airways for not giving a decent pay increase to our members. The renewal of this contract can take up to 2 years with British Airways giving a month to 3 month extension as they go for up to 2 years.
“Now once again the company want to impose an unfair wage increase of around 2% our members have been balloted and this time they will not except this they are fed up and willing to stand up for a fair pay rise .
“I have never before seen such a united front as our members in CBRE Property Maintenance British Airways Contract at Heathrow and Gatwick telling me they want something of substance backdated.
“If they do not receive this they will be united in industrial action, which will be our next ballot if talks on the 14 June are not constructive and a fair offer is not put on the table. Our members are the people who do the graft, they are the people that generate the amazing profits that CBRE have seen in the last 2 years and they are the people who deserve to share in the profits.”
