Heathrow airport strikes: What dates are they and will my flights be affected?
DISCONTENTMENT over pay and working conditions is at an all-time high.
Heathrow Airport staff are the latest to announce strikes over low pay.
When are the Heathrow Airport strikes?
On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, Unite union announced a significant series of strikes.
Over 2,000 security officers will walk out for a whopping 31 days starting on Saturday, June 24, 2023.
For the first time, security personnel based at Heathrow Terminal Three will join their colleagues from Terminal Five and campus security on the picket line.
The Terminal Three walkouts will result in many airlines dealing with delays, disruptions, and cancellations this summer.
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Airlines that could be affected include Virgin, Emirates, Qatar, United Airlines and Delta.
The walkouts at Terminal Five will heavily affect British Airways.
The strike dates are as follows:
- June 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30
- July 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 and 31
- August 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26 and 27
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Will my flights be affected?
Passengers travelling to and from Heathrow will need to prepare for disruptions and travel chaos this summer.
The strikes will fall on important dates this summer, including the Eid festival, the start of school holidays and the August bank holiday.
If your flight falls on any of the strike dates, keep an eye on your emails as your airline should contact you with any changes.
You can also check online for the airline you are flying with to see what flights are being affected by strikes.
Why are there strikes at Heathrow Airport?
There has been an ongoing dispute between Heathrow Airport and union Unite over low pay.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite is putting Heathrow on notice that strike action at the airport will continue until it makes a fair pay offer to its workers.
"Make no mistake, our members will receive the union's unflinching support in this dispute.
"Heathrow Airport has got its priorities all wrong.
"This is an incredibly wealthy company, which this summer is anticipating bumper profits and an executive pay bonanza
"It's also expected to pay out huge dividends to shareholders, yet its workers can barely make ends meet and are paid far less than workers at other airports."
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There have been similar strikes at Terminal Five in May 2023, which Heathrow has said weren't disruptive.
A spokesperson said: "Passengers can rest assured that we will do everything we can to minimise strike disruption so they can enjoy their hard-earned summer holidays."