Travel chaos averted as union calls off Heathrow strike
Union Unite has called of a strike at Heathrow which threatened to put a spanner in the works for thousands of travellers later this month.
The strike, which was meant to happen on 23 and 24 August has been called off to give more than 4,000 union members the chance to consider a new offer from the airport.
Read more: Heathrow and Unite locked in last-ditch talks to halt tomorrow’s strike
“We have put an additional £2.5 million on the table since talks began, with our current offer bringing the total pay rise to 7.8 per cent over two years for all frontline colleagues. This is well above RPI [retail price index], higher than any other UK airport and helps to provide long term wage certainty and job security,” the airport said in a statement.
Unite said the ballot on its members’ new pay offer would close on 2 September. “Strike action proposed for 23-24 August has been suspended to allow the ballot to take place,” the union said in a statement.
Read more: Union suspends Heathrow Airport July strikes but warns August action ‘still on the table’
It is the third round of strikes to be called off by Unite’s Heathrow staff negotiating for better deals. The unions members include security guards, firefighters and engineers.
It cancelled four strike days in late July and early August.
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