Gatwick passengers to face delays and disruption this summer as airport staff vote on strike action
PASSENGERS travelling through Gatwick Airport this summer could face delays and disruptions.
Workers at the hub in Crawley have started the vote today to decide whether they would strike in mid-August.
Two separate groups of workers at Gatwick are voting on the industrial action over poverty pay rates .
Unite the union said they are conducting a ballot of over 100 members working for ICTS, who are employed to scan passengers' luggage for explosive materials and other dangerous and prohibited items.
The workers are paid £8.50 an hour for the work at the moment and are demanding an increase of 50p an hour to match the real living wage of £9 an hour.
Unite is also balloting members employed by outsourcing giants ISS.
These workers are involved in maintaining the facilities at Gatwick airport, for example making sure that toilets have the appropriate materials, as well as helping with moving luggage and rearranging furniture.
The ISS workers are currently paid just £8.49 an hour and have been forced to ballot for industrial action after management reneged on a pay offer.
The workers had agreed a two stage pay increase, with the second tranche due in April 2019.
However, this payment was not made, the manager who arranged the original deal has left the organisation, and the company has failed to honour the pay pledge.
Workers in both groups have until July 26 to return the ballot.
If members vote for industrial action, strikes could begin in mid-August, which would inevitably create disruption at the airport.
Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: "It is time to end poverty pay at Gatwick airport.
"The owners of Gatwick airport are making millions every year while they are allowing workers on contracts to be paid rates below what workers can actually live on.
"It is astonishing that workers who undertake such crucial safety critical work as scanning luggage, are paid so little for the work they do.
FLIGHT FIGHT How to claim compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled
"If strikes go ahead then passengers will inevitably experience delays and a poorer service but this is in the hands of the contractors and Gatwick airport.
"Workers are drawing a line in the sand and stating clearly they will no longer accept such miserable rates of pay."
Gatwick airport made a profit of £148 million last year, an increase of £88 million on the previous 12 months.
A Gatwick spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “We are keen to see an agreement reached and for the focus to remain on delivering an excellent experience for our passengers this summer.”
Will I get my money back if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
If your flight is cancelled, you have the legal right to either a full refund within seven days or a replacement flight to your destination.
This applies for whatever reason your flight was cancelled or how long before you were told it would no longer be be flying.
If your flight is delayed by three hours or more and you were flying to or from a European airport, or with an EU-based airline such as Ryanair or British Airways, then you can claim compensation up to €250 (£229) for short-haul flights and €400 (£367) for mid-haul flights and €600 (£530) for long-haul flights.
But the airline might not payout if it's out of their control, for example, due to bad weather or strikes.
A company spokesperson for ICTS told Sun Online Travel: "We would like to reassure the travelling public that they should not expect disruption as a result of the proposed industrial action.
"Robust contingency plans are in place. We will continue to work with our staff and the Union to reach an agreement."
A spokesperson for ISS told Sun Online Travel: "We are disappointed that a small number of union members are balloting to strike at Gatwick Airport.
"We remain committed to the welfare of our employees and our service delivery on site and continue with ongoing talks to resolve the issue."
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This isn't the only strike that could affect Brits this summer.
Staff working on easyJet check-in desks at London Stansted have also voted for strike action.
And British Airways staff are also currently voting on whether or not to strike.
Sun Online Travel has contacted Gatwick, ICTS and ISS for comment.