Heathrow Airport: Unite says 800 staff to strike in outsourcing row

A week of fresh strikes involving 800 union members is planned from 7 May

Hundreds of workers at Heathrow Airport are to strike for a week in a dispute over outsourcing of jobs.

Unite said 800 of its members plan to strike from 7 to 13 May due to what it called "deplorable action" from the airport's management.

The strike action is separate to a 72-hour walkout on 4 May involving 50 refuelling staff.

A Heathrow spokesman said: "We are reorganising our operations to deliver better results for our customers."

The union said workers in passenger services, who assist travellers to catch connecting flights, trolley operations and security guards are to have their jobs outsourced by June.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Heathrow Airport's actions are deplorable. It is raking in massive profits for the bosses while trying to squeeze every last penny out of its workforce.

"Unite is fully focused on defending its members' jobs, pay and conditions, and our members at Heathrow will receive the union's unrelenting support during this dispute."

A Heathrow spokesman said: "We are reorganising our operations to deliver better results for our customers. There are no job losses as a result of these changes, and we continue to discuss with Unite the implementation of these changes for the small number of colleagues impacted.

"Unite's threats of potential industrial action are unnecessary, and customers can be reassured that we will keep the airport operating smoothly, just like we have in the past."

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