Gatwick Airport baggage staff walkout to go ahead

Hundreds of baggage handlers at Gatwick Airport will go ahead with a 48-hour strike from midnight after hopes of a last-minute breakthrough ended today.

Union officials confirmed that the walkout, in a row over working practices and the suspension of a union convenor, could not be avoided.

Passengers heading off for a break at the start of the school half-term holiday were advised to turn up as normal despite the industrial action.

Servisair, which employs the baggage handlers, said it would put in place contingency plans to ensure “minimum disruption”.

A series of previous strikes failed to delay flights from Gatwick, although the Transport and General Workers’ Union said the dispute was costing the company hundreds of thousands of pounds.

A spokesman for the company said: “This action is regrettable.

“The union convenor at the centre of the dispute has agreed to participate in the proposed disciplinary process, which is scheduled to take place in early November.

“Given that this process is central to the dispute, Servisair has urged the Transport and General Workers’ Union to reconsider the action.”

Ian McCoulough, regional organiser of the TGWU, said three managers were being used to do the work of one baggage handler on strike days, proving the union’s complaint about heavy workloads.

The strike will end at midnight on Sunday.