A three-day strike by refuelling staff at Heathrow that was set to begin on Thursday (21 July) has been suspended following a “sustainably improved” pay offer to workers employed by Aviation Fuel Services (AFS).
The strike, called by the Unite union after members rejected an offer of a 10 per cent pay increase, threatened significant disruption as AFS supplies fuel to around half of the non-British Airways traffic at Heathrow airport, including Virgin Atlantic, United, Singapore, KLM, American, Emirates, Air France and Delta.
Following “11th hour” negotiations the union suspended the strike action to allow its members to ballot on the new offer.
Unite regional officer Kevin Hall said: “Unite has consistently said that AFS was capable of making an offer more likely to meet members’ expectations. Following the assistance of [public body] ACAS an improved offer was made.
“Members will now be given the time to consider and vote on the new offer.”
Like many airports in Europe, Heathrow is struggling with copious flight delays and cancellations, largely due to staff shortages in the aviation industry.
The airport’s chief of staff and carbon, Nigel Milton, recently pointed to ongoing challenges in recruiting and training ground handling staff, many of whom lost jobs during the pandemic, and insisted that Heathrow was “well run”.