Baggage handlers and check-in staff employed by GH London at Heathrow Airport, who are members of the trade union Unite, will receive a 9.1% pay increase to mitigate strike action.
Negotiations between Unite and GH London, formally known as Azzurra, have confirmed that affected staff will receive a 6.1% pay rise backdated for 2017 and 2018 and a 3% wage increase for 2019.
The pay deal was agreed after 300 Unite members employed by GH London, based at terminals two and four at Heathrow Airport, voted 99.2% in favour of strike action in April 2019; this was in response to ongoing pay freezes, according to Unite.
Kevin Hall, regional officer at Unite, said: “The overwhelming vote for strike action was proof that [employees] at Heathrow had had enough of year-on-year pay freezes. There was a lot of anger, but more and more [staff] joined Unite and were able to demand an end to the pay injustice.
“Once constructive talks got underway, the [employees’] representatives negotiated a 9.1% pay deal. We’re pleased that GH London is now recognising its [employees’] contribution with a significant pay increase.”
Azzurra was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.