Holidaymakers flying from Gatwick Airport could face major travel disruption as baggage screeners prepare to strike over pay in August. The walkout could impact all flights leaving the UK’s second busiest airport from August 22 to 26, wreaking havoc on travel plans for the bank holiday weekend. Baggage screeners at Gatwick will also strike from August 29 to September 2, Unite the Union has said, indicating that the industrial action will intensify if a deal is not reached.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham accused employer ICTS of not offering the staff members “a fair pay rise”, suggesting they are the lowest-paid workers at the airport, “earning just above the minimum wage”. “Not doing so is just corporate greed,” she added. “ICTS’ Gatwick workers will receive Unite’s complete backing for as long as it takes during their strikes for fair pay.”
The union said all flights out of Gatwick will face disruption during the planned periods, and pressed Gatwick to demand better pay for its baggage handlers from the professional services firm.
“ICTS is entirely responsible for the disruption that will be caused to Gatwick passengers during the strike action,” Unite regional officer Ben Davis said.
“It can well afford to put forward an acceptable pay offer and that is what needs to happen.
“Despite performing a critical role, these workers are amongst the lowest paid at the airport. Gatwick should be stepping in and pressuring ICTS to put an improved offer forward.”
ICTS’ annual turnover has grown by 110% since 2020, Unite said, reaching £170.59 million last year. It also reportedly made a pre-tax profit of £6.1 million in 2024, a 46.9% year-on-year rise.
It follows widespread disruption at airports across Europe, with staff walkouts at 12 of Spain’s busiest bases set to begin on August 15, after workers went on strike for better working conditions in Italy and Portugal earlier this summer.
A spokesperson for Gatwick said the airport was not expecting the industrial action to cause significant disruption to its services.
“We are working with our suppliers to avoid any impacts and we expect to operate a normal summer holiday flight schedule for our airlines and passengers on these dates,” they told the Standard.
“Of course, we hope ICTS and their union can reach a resolution before then.”
ICTS has been contacted for comment.
