Security guards at London's Heathrow Airport are on strike as schools break up for the Easter holiday on Friday, threatening travel chaos for families flying abroad.
Unite union's 1,400 members are walking out for 10 days after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a pay dispute.
The action involves security officers at Terminal 5, which is only used by British Airways. Campus security guards who check all cargo that enters the airport are also striking.
The walkout will affect most of the holiday weekend, ending at 23.59pm on Easter Sunday, April 10.
There was no impact early on Friday according to a statement issued by Heathrow.
Talks broke down because Heathrow failed to substantially improve its pay offer, the union said.
That was disputed by John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow Airport chief executive, who told Sky News Heathrow issued an improved offer.
"Unfortunately we weren't able to reach an agreement. We improved the offer. We kept our pay increase, which was 10 per cent, ahead of the rate of inflation in place. But we made some other changes which colleagues have been asking for. And unfortunately, Unite rejected the offer and haven't put it to their members.
"But if you look behind me, I'm here in Terminal 5, which is the only terminal that voted for strike action, and you'll see it's operating as normal. We have a lot of colleagues who have come to help us out today.
"Both security officers and managers who are helping out in their purple shirts, like me. But we also have some other agency third-party workers who have come in to help us and are very experienced in this kind of security environment."
He said travellers flying over the Easter break should not worry and urged them not to come to the airport too early, saying three hours is plenty of time for a long-haul flight, while those on short-haul flights should arrive two hours before takeoff.
“Heathrow can afford to pay a decent pay rise to its workers," Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said.
“This is a wealthy company, which is about to return to bumper profits. In recent years it’s approved an astronomical rise in salary for its chief executive and paid out dividends to shareholders worth billions.
“Yet somehow, Heathrow executives seem to think it’s acceptable to offer what amounts to a real-terms pay cut to its security guards and ground staff who are already on poverty pay.
“Unite has a laser-like focus on our members' jobs, pay and conditions. The workforce at Heathrow Airport will receive the union’s unswerving support in this fight for a decent deal.”
Mr Holland-Kaye told Sky News he went without pay for three months in 2020, adding that the company has not paid out any dividends since the pandemic and the airport is "still loss-making"
He said many employees wanted to accept the pay offer, but Unite is "delaying the implementation".
'So disappointed'
Reports suggest the strike forced British Airways to cancel around 300 short-haul flights, which is approximately 5 per cent of its flight schedule.
One seasoned traveller said that he was "so disappointed" with British Airways after the airline cancelled his flight from Miami to London, resulting in him missing a client meeting.
David Tibbles, a 52-year-old IT product manager who is based in Hertfordshire, told the PA news agency that he checked in for his flight from Miami to Heathrow, but was informed by email four and a half hours later that it had been cancelled.
"I had a call to ask about alternates and was offered no assistance at all, then had a six-hour web chat with them and again no alternative or no upgrade", he said.
He said he needed to make a five-hour journey to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport for a flight on Friday and had to cancel a client meeting.
"I am a seasoned traveller and will go with the flow but so disappointed with BA how can they switch departure airports," he added.
He said British Airways swapped him from his previous flight to his new flight for free and he has been "up most of the night but there is no better solution".
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Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said: “Heathrow Airport has thrown away the opportunity to avoid strikes.
"Unite went into today’s meeting looking for an offer our members could accept. Unfortunately, it seems HAL went in with no intention of avoiding industrial action.
“The strike action will undoubtedly result in severe delays and disruption to passengers across the airport, but this dispute is a direct result of Heathrow Airport’s stubborn refusal to pay its workers fairly.”
Unite said the strikes will cause disruption to flights but Heathrow said it had contingency plans to deal with the industrial action.
“We will not let these unnecessary strikes impact the hard-earned holidays of our passengers," a Heathrow representative said.
“Our contingency plans will keep the airport operating as normal throughout.
“We are deploying 1,000 additional colleagues and the entire management team who will be in the terminals providing assistance to passengers over the busy Easter getaway.
“We know that the majority of colleagues do not support strike action. Following further talks, Unite has again refused to take an improved offer to members, despite the PCS union wanting to do so.
“Colleagues could have an above-inflation 10 per cent pay increase back-dated to January 1 and a lump sum payment of £1,150 ($1,425), but instead they’re left empty-handed by Unite’s actions.
“The only reason Unite refuse to take the improved offer to members is because they fear they’ll back it.”
Heathrow said that as with any busy time, it may take a little longer than usual to get through security during the strikes.
“Passengers can help us ensure they get the best start to their journeys by checking their flight status with their airline before travelling to the airport, arriving at Heathrow no earlier than two hours before short-haul flights and three hours before long-haul flights, and by being ready for security with their compliant liquids and electronics out of their hand luggage,” the airport said.
