LONDON – A planned 72-hour strike action by around 350 Menzies Aviation ground handlers employed at London Heathrow Airport has been averted.

Earlier today, the workers union Unite had decisively rejected Menzies’ pay offer of a four per cent increase backdated to May with a further 6.5 per cent pay increase from 1 January 2023.

The workers are seeking an increase of 13 per cent for 2022 alone.

In the latest development, a revised offer has been put to the union by Menzies Aviation, who had expressed their desire to seek an equitable settlement of the matter following the announcement of strike action this morning.

A spokesperson for the union has advised that they will suspend the strike action planned for Friday December 16 to allow them to put the revised pay offer before their members for consideration.

Menzies Aviation statement

Speaking on the suspension of tomorrow’s Heathrow strike action, Miguel Gomez Sjunnesson, EVP Europe, Menzies Aviation said:

“We are pleased to announce that following a positive meeting today, Unite have postponed the strikes that were planned for this weekend to allow them to take a revised pay offer to their members.”

“We are hopeful that this revised offer will be accepted allowing us to give our employees their well-deserved pay increase and we can focus on delivering the best service during this busy holiday period.”

A further date for strike action had been announced this morning, to take place from Thursday 29 December until 04.00 on Sunday 1 January 2023.

It is understood that this strike action remains a possibility, pending the outcome of the revised pay proposal assessment.