Unite, a United Kingdom-based union, announced that workers employed by a refueling company at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) could go on strike for 72 hours in May, potentially resulting in significant travel disruption during the strike period.
Drastic cuts to terms and conditions of new employees
According to the union’s announcement, the strikes, which would begin on May 4 and would last for 72 hours, could result in aircraft being delayed, disrupted, or grounded due to the lack of fuel. Unite said that 50 refuellers working for AFS are planning the industrial action after it imposed “drastic cuts to the terms and conditions of new staff recruited since January 2024.”
AFS is a joint venture between several oil and gas companies, including Air BP, Total, Q8 Air, and Valero. Unite accused the company of attacking its most vulnerable staff by offering them reduced pension and sickness benefits after having employed them recently.
Photo: BasPhoto | Shutterstock
The union noted that its members are responsible for refueling aircraft for such carriers as Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines, Air France, Emirates, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, JetBlue, SAS, LATAM Airlines, Air India, China Airlines, avianca, Asiana, SAUDIA, and others. In total, 35 airlines depend on AFS at LHR. In a statement to Simple Flying, the airport’s spokesperson said that it was aware of the potential strike and that it was working “with AFS to support their robust contingency plans for the airlines they provide fuel to.”
Related
Examined: The Shortest Routes From London Heathrow Airport
Despite being the UK’s main long-haul hub, there are plenty of shorter flights from Heathrow as well.
“Race to the bottom”
Unite emphasized that staff are furious at the cuts, saying that the imposition of a two-tier workforce is a potential “race to the bottom” for the people working at AFS. Sharon Graham, the General Secretary of Unite, said that AFS was behaving appallingly by attacking the terms and conditions of newly employed staff, alleging that the company views them as the easiest to intimidate.
“But Unite will not stand for such bully-boy tactics and we will be backing our members in their fight for improved pensions and sick pay for all staff.”
Meanwhile, Kevin Hall, a regional officer at the union, added that its members recognize that if they allow the “attack on their conditions to take place,” this will become the norm going forward. As such, Unite will not allow this to happen, standing firm with its members on the picket line.
“AFS will have to answer directly to the airlines and passengers for the disruption caused by their unmerited actions.”
Related
Which Airlines Have The Biggest Operations At London Heathrow?
The largest UK-based carriers have the most movements at LHR.
Bank holiday
To note, May 4, a Saturday, is the beginning of a three-day weekend, with the UK having a bank holiday on May 6, a Monday. Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium showed that LHR has 2,671 outbound flights scheduled between May 3 and May 6.
Photo: EQRoy | Shutterstock
During those three days, airlines have scheduled a total of 583,665 seats, averaging 218.5 seats per departure, resulting in 2.419 billion available seat kilometers (ASK). Meanwhile, a week later, namely between May 10 and May 13, carriers operating from LHR have scheduled 2,668 flights, offering 583,174 seats, or 218.6 per departure. The ASKs for the three-day period amount to 2.412 billion.
Related
Heathrow Airport Passport Control Staff Vote To Strike
Although no set dates have yet been announced, Border Force employees could walk out as early as April 8.
