Security guards employed by London Luton Airport will take 13 days of strike action starting today (1 May) in a dispute over “heavy-handed” changes to working time.
Unite, the trade union representing workers, said London Luton Airport is attempting to push through a new shift pattern affecting around 120 security guards which means the workforce will have to work an extra 15 days a year.
The security guards responsible for searches, baggage checks and
general security across the airport will strike from Wednesday, 1 May at
04:30h until Sunday, 5 May at 20:59h and will take further action from
Tuesday, 7 May at 04:30h until Monday, 13 May at 20:59h.
95 per cent of the workers who took part in the ballot voted for strike action.
Unite
regional officer, Jeff Hodge said: “Luton Airport is taking a very
heavy- handed approach by trying to force security guards to work an
extra 15 days. As a result the airport has now provoked strike action
over the bank holiday weekend.
“Security guards at Luton
Airport work hard and have an incredibly important job to do. The
airport needs to take responsibility for the staff shortages by doing
what’s needed to recruit new staff rather than heaping all the burden on
to its workforce.
“The union offered to put the strike on hold to allow talks to continue but management is pressing ahead with its changes. The airport now faces serious disruption over the bank holiday unless management urgently enters into genuine negotiations.”
