Boost for summer holidays as strikes at Heathrow CALLED OFF with BA workers voting to accept new pay rise
STRIKES at Heathrow Airport have been CALLED OFF after hundreds of British Airways staff accepted a new pay rise.
BA workers had planned to walk out of the UK's busiest airport in weeks, sparking chaos for families desperate for a hard-earned summer holiday.
But their holiday plans have now been saved after 75 per cent of British Airways workers today accepted a new pay offer.
It follows weeks of airport chaos across the country, as staff shortages resulted in long queues, missed flights and massive delays.
British Airways staff were set to walk out after a ten per cent pay cut imposed over the pandemic was not reinstated.
But bosses today had their pre-Covid pay rates restored.
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Workers will now receive an 8 per cent consolidated pay rise, a one-off bonus and the reinstatement of shift pay.
Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, said: “No one wanted a summer strike at Heathrow, but our members had to fight for what was right.
“This improved pay deal came because of their efforts."
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While strikes at Heathrow have been called off, another strike is due to take place at Glasgow Prestwick airport.
Several workers are due to take part, including airport security, firefighters, airfield operators, ground crew, ground handling, cargo customer service workers and cleaners.
Union members are striking after they rejected a 6.5 per cent pay increase, requesting the Scottish "Real Living Wage" of £9.90 an hour instead.
But airport bosses have said fewer than 18 per cent of workers voted in favour of the strike, and claimed most were happy with the pay offer.
There are no set dates for the strike, with hopes the involved parties will resolve the dispute before any walkouts.
But Glasgow airport told Sun Online Travel that the strike would take place at the end of August at the earliest.
Meanwhile Ryanair staff went on strike in Spain this week.
And there was hope for travellers stuck in long passport queues.
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The Home Office has announced that Brits will instead be able to travel via 'contactless smart corridors' at airports, using facial recognition.
This means holidaymakers would be able to speed through the airport without having their passports checked at the border.
