Pay: Unite wins raises worth 8.3% on average for thousands at Gatwick
Unite the Union has secured an average pay rise of 8.3% for more than 4,600 workers employed by 11 different companies at Gatwick Airport in recent weeks. Notable pay deals include:
• 11% for 170 ICTS baggage screening workers;
• 10.5% for 400 Wilson James passenger assistance workers;
• 9.8% for 1,100 DHL easyJet workers; and
• 8% plus a £900 payment for 1,900 workers directly employed by Gatwick.
Strikes had been planned at ICTS and Wilson James in mid-July but were cancelled after new pay offers were made.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “As these phenomenal results show, Unite is reversing the trend of jobs at Gatwick being underpaid and undervalued. Unite is achieving this by organising workers at Gatwick and relentlessly focusing on improving jobs, pay and conditions.”
Separately, Unite is running a campaign across airports in Scotland to improve pay and conditions across the board. Runway to Success has put forward five aims: action on insecure work, pay rises, better work life balance, recognition and bargaining agreements, and restoring conditions removed during Covid, such as sick pay and holidays.
UK airports saw record passenger numbers in June, and Heathrow had its busiest day ever on 30 June.