Gatwick Airport strikes: Staff to strike in August 2023

More than 230 workers will be participating in the strikes which will take place over two consecutive weekends in August.

The first strike by members of the union working for ground handling company Red Handling will occur from Friday, August 18, for four days.

This will be followed by another four-day strike starting on Friday, August 25, which includes the August bank holiday weekend.

Additionally, workers employed by Wilson James, who operate Gatwick’s passenger assistance contract, will strike for three days starting on August 18, and another three days beginning on August 22.

London Gatwick staff to strike in August

Unite has stated that both companies have failed to make offers that meet the workers’ expectations.

Red Handling is responsible for the ground handling of several airlines, including Norse Atlantic, Norwegian, Delta, TAP Air Portugal, and Saudi.

Staff will strike for two weekends. (Image: Getty)

It’s expected that around 216 flights could be disrupted or delayed, affecting approximately 45,000 passengers, during the first four-day strike at Red Handling.

Discussing the strikes, Dominic Rothwell, Unite regional officer said: “The strike action is set to cause severe disruption throughout Gatwick Airport, but this dispute is totally of the employers’ own making, they have been given every opportunity to make our members a fair pay offer but have failed to do so.

“The companies need to stop prevaricating and make an offer which meets our members’ expectations.”

Strikes that were initially planned for this week have been called off by GGS workers, who are on the British Airways contract, as well as employees at DHL Ground Handling, ASC, and Menzies.

The strikes were called off after discussing pay, with the union later accepting the pay offers. 

GGS workers reportedly voted to accept an improved pay offer of 10.3%, which Unite union has described as a substantial financial benefit for the workers.