Holiday warning as major UK airport facing strikes during mid-term which may hit '70 per cent of one airline's flights'

Scottish Sun

02-05-2025

Staff say the strikes would be 'disastrous'
HOLS CHAOS Holiday warning as major UK airport facing strikes during mid-term which may hit '70 per cent of one airline's flights'
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THOUSANDS of travellers face a month of chaos as airline workers threaten to strike - grounding over 70 per cent of flights.
Holidaymakers planning to fly next month are likely to see huge disruptions as staff threaten to choke travel over a pay dispute, according to UNITE.
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UNITE union members at Gatwick Airport are striking over pay
Credit: Alamy
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The UK's second busiest airport may be facing industrial action next month
Credit: Alamy
Plane refuellers from World Fuel Services, a major provider at Gatwick, are planning a walk-out from the start of next month.
The UNITE union members claimed their action would be 'disastrous' for travellers, predicting they will stop at least 70 per cent of EasyJet in the UK's second largest airport.
One raging refueller, who wishes to stay anonymous, explained that they don't "want" to be striking but are left with no other option.
They told the Sun: "[A strike] would be disastrous. It would affect 70% of [easyJet flights].
"None of us want to do it. None of us. But the company, this American company, they're just being awkward and stubborn and changing the rules as they go along."
EasyJet accounts for over half of all departures from Gatwick Airport and UNITE union members are responsible for refuelling over 250 planes each day.
Management offered a 4.25 per cent pay increase over a year and a 7.25 per cent rise over two but union members refused, according to the employee.
Strikers countered by asking for a 6 per cent pay rise in the first year and to bring their weekly work hours from 45 hours to 39.
The furious employee also claimed their employer is playing down the strikes.
They warned that WFS is hiring temporary workers temporary who, are being rushed through training, in an attempt to "cover up" the industrial actions.
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'They've done this by bringing in the temp [workers]. They have hired seven temporary workers," they added.
'They took them on recently because they thought we were going to strike over Easter and training-wise, they were rushed through.'
'They think they can get by with the temporary workers and those who aren't on strike but it will be a mess.
'In busy seasons, you're looking at about 220 to maybe 275 planes [to refuel] a day.'
UNITE stated that the refuellers' strike was expected to coincide with industrial action by employees of another company, Red Handling, where over 100 baggage handlers, check-in staff, and flight dispatchers were scheduled to stage another walkout.
'We are not being greedy - currently, we can't book any holidays," the employee continued.
"They are refusing us to book any because they're worried about us going on strike, so they cancelled all holidays.'
'The company is being ass h*les to us.'
Out of the 48 employees at the company, only about five are thought to not take part in the action.
The WFS worker added: 'Not all the workers are part of this.
"They won't all be going on strike. There are five who are unlikely to join.
The Sun has reached out to Gatwick Airport and World Fuel Services for a comment.