Pay deal hope to avert Gatwick strike

Hopes of averting strikes by workers who refuel aircraft at Gatwick Airport rose today after a new offer was made on pay and union recognition.

The British Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) will put the proposed deal to its members employed by GRS at the airport tomorrow.

The union has called strikes running up to the May Bank Holiday weekend and warned that flights would be disrupted if the action goes ahead.

Kevin Hall, the union’s regional industrial organiser, said the new proposal involved changes to a three-year pay deal he said had been controversially imposed on the 15 workers in return for accepting a voluntary union recognition agreement.

The offer followed talks involving the conciliation service Acas which finished late last night.