Unite members employed by Aviation Fuel Services (AFS) at Heathrow will walk out for three days later this month over pay.
It comes after 93% of Unite’s AFS members at Heathrow voted for strike action on a 92% turnout. The strike will be held over 21-24 July.
AFS provides fuelling services to more than 70 airlines at Heathrow, including Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, United, Emirates, Delta and KLM.
Unite said its members were striking in pursuit of a first pay increase for three years, during which time their incomes – the union claims – have fallen by 15.5%.
“AFS needs to offer its workers a decent pay rise," said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said. "Oil and gas companies are making massive profits so AFS has the wherewithal to make a proper offer. AFS workers have sustained wage cuts for three years so it’s time AFS rewarded their sacrifices.
“Our members at AFS will receive Unite’s complete support until this dispute is resolved and workers receive a decent pay increase.”
’Considerable disruption’
The 72-hour walk out will start at 5am on Thursday 21 July and run until 4.59am on Sunday 24 July. Other airlines that could be affected include SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Air France, Japan Airlines and Singapore Airlines.
Unite regional officer Kevin Hall added: “Strike action will inevitably cause considerable disruption across Heathrow but this strike is entirely of AFS’s own making. Unite has given the company every opportunity to make a decent pay offer and it has failed to do so.
“Even now strike action and the resulting disruption can be avoided if AFS returns to the negotiating table and makes an offer that meets our member’ expectations.”
TTG has approached AFS for comment.
