Baggage screeners employed by ICTS at London Gatwick Airport, the UK’s second busiest after London Heathrow, will now no longer be going on strike between 29 August and 2 September due to the acceptance of a new pay deal by ICTS employees.
Strikes Called Off
The strikes, which were the second round of planned strikes by baggage screeners working at Gatwick Airport, have now been called off. Unite, the union of which ICTS employees are members of, announced on August 26 that its workers accepted a pay deal which consisted of a 7% pay rise and other benefits, backdated to April 2025. Unite’s General Secretary, Sharon Graham, said the following:
“This is trade unionism in action: By being prepared to strike, ICTS workers at Gatwick won a seven per cent pay rise. Once again, Unite’s laser focus on improving jobs, pay and conditions is putting money in our members’ pockets.”
Unite Regional Officer Ben Davis also shared a celebratory statement:
“Well done to Unite’s reps and members at ICTS who stood together and won. Those wanting better wages and working lives should join Unite and get their colleagues to join too. There is power in a union.”
As part of the new pay deal, workers will not only receive an increased hourly rate, but also double pay for shifts taking place on Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Unite previously claimed that baggage screeners employed by ICTS were among the lowest-paid workers at Gatwick Airport and were paid “just above minimum wage.”
Gatwick Breathes a Sigh of Relief
In a statement on X, a spokesperson for Gatwick Airport was “pleased” that strike action had been called off and said that the airport was looking forward to welcoming passengers “as normal” over the coming days. Had the strikes gone ahead, the union Unite said that “all flights” out of Gatwick would face cancellation or disruption and that industrial action would escalate if not resolved.
According to Cirium, the Bank Holiday weekend (August 23-25) was expected by be the busiest weekend for aviation in the UK this year, with over two million passengers travelling between the above dates. The rest of August is also expected to be busy, with families and holidaymakers flying back into the UK as school summer holidays draw to a close.
Are you glad the disruption is over? Share your thoughts in the comments.
