The Unite union has suspended a strike by security workers at Gatwick after the airport’s contractor made a new pay offer in talks.
Around 130 members of the union employed by ICTS to scan passengers’ luggage for explosives and other dangerous and prohibited materials were due to stage a walk-out from Saturday morning until Monday morning and again on Tuesday in a dispute over pay.
However, the union made the decision to call off the industrial action “following extremely productive pay talks”, with ICTS making a commitment to become a fully accredited real living wage employer. Unite said the move would make the company the first at Gatwick airport to do so.
Unite has now submitted the offer for a ballot with a recommendation to accept.
Unite regional officer Jamie Major commented: “The commitment by ICTS to become a real living wage employer is welcome and Unite will be applying pressure to other Gatwick employers to follow suit. Following this pay offer, it is hoped that there will be more harmonious industrial relations with ICTS moving forward.”
Meanwhile, Unite is still in negotiations with Heathrow airport after suspending strikes earlier this week, but a walk-out planned for 23-24 August is still ‘on the table’.