Gatwick Airport strikes: Everything you need to know as hundreds of flights are affected sparking Easter travel chaos
EASTER travel chaos has begun, as Gatwick airport faces strikes and hundreds of flights are affected.
Over 100 Red Handling staff members are striking over unpaid pensions, late payments and “illegal” shift patterns.
The strike, organised by Unite the union will affect baggage handlers, check-in agents and flight dispatchers working with airlines such as Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace.
Around 50 flights a day will be disrupted, it is believed.
Members of the Unite union working for ground handling firm Red Handling rejected a last-minute deal to call off the strikes on Wednesday.
Now, hundreds of holidaymakers hoping to jet off from the UK’s largest airport will be affected.
The industrial action will take place from Good Friday, April 18 and continue until the early hours of Tuesday, April 22.
But the reasons for such strikes are grave.
Workers revealed their pensions have been deducted from their wages, which have then gone missing.
Meanwhile others say they are being paid up to two weeks late.
Some employees claimed they have not had pension schemes set up for them at all.
While airport staff protested they are unable to take breaks when there are issues, such as delayed flights or emergency landings, Unite regional officer David Taylor told the Standard.
As a result of new working patterns, some workers are not getting 11 hours between their shifts, the legal requirement between working days, or lunch and afternoon breaks.
Unite also claims Red Handling has routinely paid employees late, not agreed to contractual late payment reimbursement and has insufficient working patterns.
Mr Taylor explained the dispute has been ongoing for more than a year, and Unite members believe their employer’s “promises are broken every time”.
He added: “Gatwick Airport says it expects the Easter holiday to be its busiest period of the year so far, so there is no doubt that industrial action over the long weekend will be extremely disruptive for travellers – however, this is a dispute entirely of Red Handling’s own making.”
In response to the workers’ claims, a Red Handling spokesperson said: “Our shift patterns are fully compliant with UK law, with adequate breaks and downtime provided for staff.
“We take payroll very seriously and do everything we can to ensure that all employees are paid accurately and on time.”
The company added that non-traditional bank holidays caused some delayed payments. Along with a “complex pensions scenario”.
However, the Red Handling spokesperson said the company is aiming to resolve all delayed payments by May 10.
A London Gatwick spokesperson added: “We are aware of the recent ballot results and the planned industrial action by Red Handling, which will impact thousands of passengers during one of our busiest times of year.
“We are supporting the airlines impacted, who hold the contracts directly with Red Handling, with their contingency plans and are hopeful a resolution can be reached ahead of the proposed industrial action.
“Passengers are advised to contact their airlines directly for latest information.”
UK train station set to close this weekend
Network Rail has warned of the major engineering work taking place, impacting London Euston.
Individuals travelling from other stations will also be affected as the line to Scotland will be shut down.
Whilst the work hopes to bring in improvements for the future, individuals planning their weekend away will need to take note.
No trains will run between London Euston and Milton Keynes from Saturday to Monday, with the former closed on these days.
Friday will operate with a reduced timetable making it even more crucial that travellers try to make their journeys ahead of the Bank Holiday.
Critical work will also take place near Northampton over the Easter period as engineers finalise the connection of a new rail freight exchange.
It is thought the new signalling system will be activated during this time to ensure the safe and smooth integration with the broader rail network.
Works will also take place in the North, impacting those in Salford, Liverpool and Cumbria.
The facilities at Euston will also receive a spruce with upgrades to the toilets and in-station navigation.
Network Rail has also sought to complete vital upgrades to improve the reliability of journeys for passengers.
Over 200 metres of drainage will be introduced near Leighton Buzzard to help with the prevention of floods.
Amanda Webster-Uz, Network Rail’s head of Euston station operations, said: “There’s a significant amount of work happening over the Easter bank holiday to improve the reliability of the railway for both passengers and freight.
“Whilst the railway to Euston is closed, we’re also taking the opportunity to improve the station itself, which will include improving our signage and upgrading our toilet facilities for customers.
“We’re encouraging passengers to check their journeys in advance and, where possible, travel before or after the Easter weekend.”
Across the Easter Bank Holidays, Caledonian Sleeper services will be re-routed to King’s Cross station.