Travellers flying via Gatwick Airport this Easter weekend face significant disruption as strike action by ground staff is set to go ahead, following the rejection of a last-minute offer by workers.
Baggage handlers and flight dispatchers employed by Red Handling, a key ground services provider at the UK’s second busiest airport, will walk out from Good Friday, 18 April, through to the early hours of Tuesday, 22 April. The industrial action, backed by trade union Unite, centres on a series of long-running grievances, including missing pension contributions, late wage payments, and alleged breaches of working time regulations.
According to Unite, hundreds of its members “overwhelmingly rejected” the most recent deal put forward by Red Handling on Wednesday. Despite the rejection, the union has indicated that it remains open to further discussions. A spokesperson said, “Our members are still available for talks to resolve the matters, but Red Handling needs to come to the table with serious commitments.”
David Taylor, Unite’s regional officer, described the situation as a disgrace and criticised the company’s failure to meet basic employment standards. “Workers have had pension contributions deducted from their wages that appear to have vanished,” he said. “Some have not been enrolled in any pension scheme at all, and many have experienced payroll delays of up to two weeks.”
He further explained that some workers are being denied their legal right to 11 hours’ rest between shifts, with certain staff expected to work extended hours without adequate breaks, particularly during flight delays or emergency landings.
“This dispute has dragged on for more than a year, with Red Handling repeatedly breaking promises,” Mr Taylor added. “Our members have had enough. They extended an olive branch this week to avoid strikes, but Red Handling’s response has fallen short yet again.”
The looming strike action is expected to cause delays and cancellations for several major airlines, including Delta, TAP Air Portugal, Norwegian, and Air Peace. Around 50 flights per day could be impacted, with thousands of holidaymakers likely to face long queues, delays at check-in, and potential baggage issues during one of the airport’s busiest weekends of the year.
Legal experts have warned that affected passengers may not be entitled to compensation under current regulations, as industrial action by airport service providers is considered an “extraordinary circumstance” beyond the airlines’ control.
Gatwick Airport has stated that it expects a high volume of travellers over the Easter period and has urged passengers to check with their airlines before travelling. A spokesperson confirmed the airport is working closely with partners to minimise disruption but acknowledged that significant delays are possible.
More Read
In response to the mounting criticism, Red Handling defended its position, insisting that its shift patterns are fully compliant with UK labour laws. A company spokesperson stated: “Our shift arrangements provide sufficient rest and downtime. We take payroll issues very seriously and have addressed the recent delay, which affected a small number of employees due to processing issues with non-traditional banks.”
On the pensions issue, the company acknowledged the situation was “complex” and inherited, but said it is actively working to resolve any delayed contributions. “We are aiming to complete all outstanding payments by 10 May,” the spokesperson added.
Red Handling also expressed confidence in its contingency planning. “We are doing everything possible to ensure that passengers can travel safely and on time over Easter. We continue to engage with Unite and hope to reach a satisfactory resolution.”
Nevertheless, Unite has made it clear that the strike is a direct result of what it sees as the company’s mismanagement and failure to protect its workforce. “This chaos is entirely of Red Handling’s own making,” Mr Taylor concluded. “Our members are determined to stand up for fair treatment, and we call on Red Handling to meet their obligations before more damage is done.”
