WizzAir flights plunged into chaos with holidaymakers set to have plans ruined
Severe delays are expected at Luton Airport over three days of ground handler strikes.
PA
British holidaymakers on hundreds of WizzAir flights are set to suffer "substantial disruption," as the airline’s ground handlers take part in industrial action at Luton Airport in the next few weeks.
Unite union announced that more than 80 members would take part in the strikes, pencilled in for August 30, followed by September 6 and 13.
Severe delays are expected at Luton Airport over three days of ground handler strikes.
WizzAir’s ground handlers, who are employed by contractor GH London Ground Handling Services Ltd, opened talks with the firm to discuss grievances of working conditions.
UK Border Control at Luton Airport
PA
Complaints by workers include the alleged gathering of CCTV and audio recordings from break rooms and failure to pay wages on time.
Unite general-secretary Sharon Graham said: “GH London's conduct is appalling; workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace and the company's behaviour falls far below that standard.
“Unite always puts the jobs, pay, and conditions of its members first and the workers at GH London will be receiving the union's unflinching support.”
The union also claims that ethnic minority employees are disproportionately subjected to disciplinary hearings, and that the company fails to adhere to its own disciplinary and grievance process.
Ground handling is the catch-all term for operations and services conducted while the aircraft is on the ground.
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Ground handling is the catch-all term for operations and services conducted while the aircraft is on the ground, such as aircraft repositioning, preparation for and conclusion of a flight.
The broad term encompasses customer service, ramp service functions and baggage handling.
A Wizz Air spokesperson said: "We are in touch with Luton Airport and our ground handling partner and are doing everything within our control to limit disruptions for passengers.
"In case of any disruptions, we will reach out to any affected passengers who booked directly with the airline via email and sms and let them know their options as soon as we have an update."
Unite regional officer Richard Gates said: "The strikes will cause huge disruption to Wizz’s schedule but GH London has brought this dispute on itself.
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“Unite has given the company every opportunity to improve its conduct and it has refused to do so."
Gatwick Airport is also awaiting the outcome of pay disputes with Unite members at Red Handling, Wilson James and DHL Gatwick Direct.
The union's regional officer, Dominic Rothwell, said: “The threat of strike action continues to loom over Gatwick.
“Further strikes will be called in the near future, which will cause substantial disruption across the airport, unless the companies concerned make vastly improved offers which meet our members' expectations.”
It comes as EasyJet announced it had scrapped around 1,700 flights up to September, the majority of which were due at Gatwick.
Travel disruption is set to be exacerbated by air traffic control restrictions and strikes on the continent, as controllers prepare to walkout in France and Italy.