Two separate wage disputes are causing disruption at Gatwick Airport in the next few weeks.
The industrial action of the Red Handling and Redline Oil unions will overlap with that of other unions in May and in June.
Redline Oil Services plane refuellers, who work with airlines such as easyJet and are part of the Redline Oil Services group, have walked out over a pay dispute. Gatwick Airport is the main hub for low-cost airlines. After rejecting a 3.5% offer over two years, the Redline employees have voted for a strike.
Members of Redline will take action from 16-20 May, and 23-27 may. Red Handling will take action on 11, 18, 25 and 26 May and 2 June.
Two sets of strikes of four days by Redline employees, who ensure that aircraft have enough fuel to fly, will likely cause cancellations and delays, including during the first half of May’s half-term.
After a strike at Easter, Red Handling workers, including check-in staff, baggage handlers and flight dispatchers, are planning to walk out for four Sundays in a row, including the two following the half-term break.
Norwegian, Delta, and TAP are also affected.
Red Handling employees have complained about several things with their employer. These include incorrect and missing pension payments, and the lack of schemes. Many workers have complained that they were paid late and are now in financial difficulties. The 100-strong team has also complained that they are not allowed to take breaks.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham stated: “Workers in both companies are tired of the poor treatment and low pay offered by their employers, and it’s no surprise that they have taken strike action.”
“We will support our members at Red Handling Redline in these disputes.”
Red Handling is also accused of using union-busting techniques, including employing agency workers for the last round of strikes and putting those on strike in unsatisfactory positions. They have also conducted back-to work interviews with those on strike to discourage them from doing so again.
David Taylor, Unite’s regional officer said: “The treatment of our workers by Red Handling after returning to work following the first round of action has been nothing short of disgraceful. Union busting is rampant at the company. Unite won’t stand for it.
“Our message has always been clear: pay your members’ pensions, and we will not take any further action. But all workers receive is false promises.”
He called on both companies to come back to the table for negotiations.
Red Handling spokesperson stated at the time Easter strikes began (from 18 April), “Our shift patterns comply fully with UK law with adequate breaks for staff.
We take payroll seriously and will do all we can to make sure that employees are paid on time and accurately. We are only aware of a few recent problems involving non-traditional banks who have taken a little longer to process payment.
The issue was resolved.
We have addressed the pensions issue as soon as possible.
The company said that it had inherited “a complex pensions scenario”, and that there were a few delayed payments.
Redline Oil Services Gatwick employees, who number around 40, gained union recognition only in 2024.
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