Gatwick Airport workers who help people with disabilities balloted for strike action

Gatwick Airport 5-1-15 (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-150601-100616001

Gatwick Airport workers who help people with disabilities are being balloted for strike action in a row over pay.

Unite has served a strike ballot notice and will start sending ballot papers for strike action to its 254 members employed by logistics firm Wilson James at Gatwick on Monday (October 15). The ballot closes on October 29.

A Unite spokesman said: “The dispute centres on a demand for a £1 an hour pay rise for the year starting 1 April 2018 to begin to bridge the gap with those airport staff pushing luggage trollies who earn significantly more than Wilson James staff. Those assisting disabled passengers are paid just £8.27 per hour.”

Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: “Our members take their responsibilities to the hundreds of thousands passengers they care for during their time at Gatwick very seriously - however, this blatant pay inequality can’t continue any longer.

“We calculate that our members look after 670,000 assisted passengers a year, many with disabilities, which is a big responsibility and should be valued appropriately by the employer.

“There is no rhyme nor reason why pushing luggage is valued more than helping people – perhaps, it’s because airlines can charge more for heavy luggage to increase profits.”