The threatened strike action by Stansed Airport baggage handlers’ over the busy Easter weekend has been called off.
Last week baggage handlers voted to take strike action in a dispute over new shift patterns would potentially cost workers upto £1000 a year in lost earnings.
Thankfully, unions have announced that the proposed Stansted strike action will be suspended after talks led to Stansted Airport issuing the following statement on it’s website.
“Swissport and the joint trade unions GMB and Unite have announced that the proposed strike action by baggage handlers planned for the Easter weekend has been called off,”
The two unions and Swissport said in a joint statement: “We are pleased passengers and families travelling over the Easter weekend will no longer face potential disruption.
“We will continue our talks in an attempt to reach a joint consensus that ensures we understand our commercial challenges and balance the need for the work life balance of our employees.”
Swissport, who employ around 150 people to handle baggage for several airlines including Ryanair, Thomsonfly and Thomas Cook, said a drop in flights at Stansted had significantly reduced its revenues, and the introduction of new working patterns were needed to cut costs. Richard Prince, general manager of Swissport Stansted, said the changes meant job losses could be avoided.
