United Kingdom: Gatwick Airport is facing serious disruption this Easter weekend as hundreds of ground staff employed by Red Handling launch strike action over unpaid pensions, delayed wages, and allegedly illegal shift patterns. The Unite union confirmed that its members “overwhelmingly rejected” a last-minute offer by Red Handling, ensuring the industrial action would go ahead from Good Friday, April 18, through the early hours of Tuesday, April 22.
“There is no doubt that industrial action over the long weekend will be extremely disruptive for travellers. However, this is a dispute entirely of Red Handling’s own making,” said Unite regional officer David Taylor, according to the Evening Standard.
The affected workers include baggage handlers, check-in staff, and flight dispatchers servicing key airlines such as Norwegian, Delta, TAP, and Air Peace, with around 50 flights a day expected to be disrupted.
Staff Cite Vanishing Pensions, Missed Payments, and Safety Risks
The root of the dispute stems from serious allegations that workers’ pension contributions were being deducted from paychecks but failing to appear in their pension accounts. Unite told the Evening Standard that some employees haven’t had pension schemes set up at all, while others have complained about pay arriving up to two weeks late.
Workers also say they are being denied legal rest periods between shifts and proper breaks during emergencies or flight delays. Taylor added that the situation poses a health and safety concern:
“There is also a health and safety issue due to Red Handling workers not being able to take adequate breaks so they can rest between shifts and we urge the company to take this seriously,” according to the Standard.
The union said that the conflict has persisted for over a year, with members accusing Red Handling of repeatedly breaking promises. Taylor stated:
“How workers have been treated by Red Handling has been nothing short of a disgrace. We’re demanding that Red Handling pay all outstanding pension contributions immediately and compensate staff for retirement money they’ve lost.”
In a statement, Red Handling responded:
“Our shift patterns are fully compliant with UK law, with adequate breaks and downtime provided for staff. We take payroll very seriously and do everything we can to ensure that all employees are paid accurately and on time.”
The company added that only a small number of employees were affected by payment delays, primarily due to processing issues with non-traditional banks. A spokesperson told “The issue has now been resolved,” and said Red Handling is working to address pension issues “as quickly as possible,” targeting May 10 as the date by which all delayed payments will be corrected.
Picture Credits: Gatwick Airport
Gatwick: Minimal Impact Expected, But Passengers Urged to Check Flights
Nick Williams, Gatwick Airport’s Head of Passenger Operations, sought to downplay the expected disruption, stating that:
“It’s a very small number of airlines who don’t operate a huge number of flights, so we’re not talking about big-scale impact.”
He added, “We’re working really closely with those airlines to try and mitigate that impact and hope that as many of those flights operate as close to schedule as possible. We’d advise passengers to check their airline over the weekend.”
Despite those reassurances, Gatwick Airport acknowledged in a statement that the strike would “impact thousands of passengers during one of our busiest times of year.” The airport confirmed it is supporting the affected airlines with contingency planning and remains “hopeful a resolution can be reached.”
Legal experts warned that passengers whose travel plans are disrupted by the strike will not be eligible for compensation, since industrial action falls under the “extraordinary circumstances” category.
Data from passenger rights organization AirHelp ranked Gatwick as the second most disrupted UK airport over Easter last year, with more than a quarter of travellers experiencing delays or cancellations.
Flight Compensation Rights During Strikes
If your flight is disrupted due to a strike, compensation eligibility depends on the nature of the strike and your travel circumstances. Strikes by airport staff, such as baggage handlers or check-in personnel, are typically considered “extraordinary circumstances.” In these cases, airlines are not obligated to provide financial compensation. However, they must offer assistance, including rebooking on alternative flights, meals, and accommodation if necessary.
Conversely, if the airline’s own staff, such as pilots or cabin crew, initiate a strike, passengers may be entitled to compensation under EU Regulation (EC) 261/2004. This regulation mandates compensation of up to €600 (approximately £520) per person for cancellations or significant delays, provided the airline fails to notify passengers at least 14 days before departure.
Additionally, comprehensive travel insurance can offer protection against costs arising from strike-related disruptions. Policies may cover non-refundable expenses if a strike causes a trip delay of 12 hours or more, depending on the insurer’s terms. It’s crucial to review your policy’s coverage details and retain receipts and written confirmation from the airline regarding the cause of any delay or cancellation.
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