Pay justice fights

Luton airport cleaners are on a week-long strike as part of a campaign against their “Scrooge” bosses’ pay policies.

The workers who are responsible for maintaining a safe and clean environment for staff and passengers at Luton Airport are currently struggling to make ends meet on the minimum wage of ÂŁ7.83.

Cleaning firm Sasse, which was awarded the contract by Luton Airport in April this year and increased its turnover by 21 per cent to £9m in 2017, have offered a three year pay deal to increase workers’ pay.

By 2021, however, Sasse workers will still be earning below the real Living Wage of ÂŁ9.

Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said, “Bosses at Luton Airport are behaving like Scrooge. By 2021 cleaners at Luton Airport still won’t be earning a real Living Wage.

“With cleaners out on strike for a full seven days in the run up to Christmas the stoppage will bring cleaning services at the UK’s fifth busiest airport to a virtual standstill.”

The strike, which 100 per cent of members balloted voted for, began earlier this week (December 4) and will finish on Tuesday (December 11).

Meanwhile, Unite members employed by Clece Care Services at Luton Airport have suspended their planned strike action while the workers vote on a revised offer from the company.

Toxic combination

Clece’s Luton Airport workforce, who are responsible for helping passengers with mobility restrictions, including disabled passengers, are on a toxic combination of zero hours and the minimum wage.

Hodge called on Luton London Airport management to get their “house in order”.

The airport announced profits of nearly ÂŁ40m and carried almost 16m passengers in 2017 but has refused to intervene to insist its contractors pay at least the Real Living Wage and treat workers with dignity.

Hodge said, “This year alone there have been five separate disputes over pay involving workers (at Luton). The airport is suffering reputational damage.

“With healthy profits and growing passenger numbers, Luton and its contractors have no excuse for paying workers below the Real Living Wage. Workers at Luton Airport are intensifying their campaign for pay justice.”