Staff employed by Menzies Aviation at London Luton Airport have secured a pay increase of almost nine per cent after successful negotiations prevented industrial action and delivered significant improvements for the workforce.
The trade union Unite said that the deal means a typical baggage handlers’ annual pay will increase by around £1,670 by January 2019.
Baggage handlers, check-in staff, passenger service assistants and security staff at Luton airport overwhelmingly voted to accept the pay offer worth 8.75 per cent.
Workers will receive an additional £1 an hour for working unsociable hours. The union and management have also agreed to make significant improvements to working conditions at Luton which had been a long running concern for the workforce at the airport.
The agreement was struck after a series of talks with Menzies Aviation following a vote by the workers in favour of strike action.
Unite regional officer, Jeff Hodge said: “The workforce took a brave stand in order to improve their working conditions and pay. By standing together they achieved just that. Not only did they secure a deserved inflation beating pay increase of almost nine per cent, management is now working with the union to make significant improvements to working conditions.”
The workforce will receive a five per cent increase backdated to October 2017 followed by 3.75 per cent or RPI (whichever is higher) from January 2019. Workers will also get an additional £1 per hour for an unsociable hours premium for hours worked from 00:00h to 04:59h effective May 2019.
