Mobility assistants at Luton airport are set to stage a week-long strike, while cleaners are voting on industrial action in a row over pay.
Members of the Unite union employed by Clece Care Services, which provides assistance for passengers with mobility issues at the airport, will walk out from 0500 on 8 November until 1700 on 15 November.
Unite claims Clece is “leaving its UK workers impoverished”, with staff on “a toxic combination of zero hours and the minimum wage”.
Meanwhile, cleaners employed by Sasse will begin voting today on strike action. Unite says its members are “struggling to make ends meet” on the national minimum wage of £7.83.
Sasse was awarded the Luton airport contract in April and has offered a deal to increase workers’ pay over the next three years but Unite claims staff will still be earning below the real Living Wage by 2021.
The union is also pointing partial blame on Luton, saying the airport has “refused to intervene to insist its contractors pay at least the real Living Wage and treat workers at the airport with dignity”.
Jeff Hodge, regional officer at Unite, said: “It’s time for Luton airport to get its house in order. This year alone there have been five separate disputes over pay involving workers. The airport is suffering reputational damage. While three of the disputes were resolved after workers took a stand, the two disputes which remain unresolved involve the worst paid and worst treated workers at the airport. This is plain wrong and it’s time for action.”