Brave stand secures pay win

Staff employed by Menzies at Luton Airport have secured a pay increase of almost 9 per cent after successful negotiations prevented industrial action and delivered significant improvements for the workforce.

The deal means a typical baggage handlers’ annual pay will increase by around £1,670 by January 2019.

Baggage handlers, check-in staff, passenger service assistants and security staff at Luton airport overwhelmingly voted to accept the pay offer worth 8.75 per cent. Workers will receive an additional ÂŁ1 an hour for working unsociable hours. The union and management have also agreed to make significant improvements to working conditions at Luton which had been a long running concern for the workforce at the airport.

The agreement was struck after a series of talks with Menzies Aviation following a vote by the workers in favour of strike action.

Unite regional officer, Jeff Hodge said, “The workforce took a brave stand in order to improve their working conditions and pay. By standing together they achieved just that. Not only did they secure a deserved inflation beating pay increase of almost 9 per cent, management are now working with the union to make significant improvements to working conditions.”

The workforce will receive a 5 per cent increase backdated to October 2017 followed by 3.75 per cent or the RPI (whichever is higher) from January 2019. Workers will also get an additional £1 per hour for an unsociable hours premium for hours worked from 00:00 am to 04:59 am effective May 2019.