Easter holiday warning as more airport staff set to strike | The Sun

FAMILIES heading abroad during the Easter holidays are being warned of more travel chaos due to strike action.

More than 3,000 workers are calling to strike during the school break.

Unite confirmed that staff included in the walkout include security guards, engineers and firefighters.

The call to strike follows the rejection of a 10 per cent pay rise and claim some staff earn as little as £24k.

If it goes ahead, Brits face cancelled and delayed flights as well as long airport queues.

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King, said the strike would cause "severe disruption throughout Heathrow with delays, disruption and cancellations of flights inevitable".

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He added: "This isn’t about what our members want, this is about what they need for them and their families. This is about need not greed."

This year, the Easter holidays run from April 3 to April 14.

A Heathrow spokesperson said they were "disappointed" by the plans to strike, saying it "unnecessarily escalates matters".

They said: "Since last November, discussions with our unions have resulted in an offer of a 10 per cent. increase on salary, shift pay and allowances this year on top of a four per cent increase six months ago – this is despite Heathrow remaining loss-making and with significant uncertainties facing our business, including the spectre of Covid travel restrictions which we have already seen re-introduced just this year.”

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Heathrow Airport boss John Holland-Kaye said it was "back to its best" after recording the busiest start to the year since pre-pandemic.

More than 5.4million passengers travelled through Heathrow last month, the first time since the start of 2020.

The Heathrow strikes aren't the only ones affecting Brits hoping to go abroad this year.

Border Force officials go on strike this week, with industrial action planned for February 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th.

The strike will affect inbound international travel from the Port of Calais, Port of Dunkirk, Coquelles Channel Tunnel Terminal and the Port of Dover.

The government has updated their travel advice for families, including using the eGates and being prepared for longer queues at the border.

Air traffic controllers across 16 airports in Spain have confirmed they would be walking out every Monday for the next month.

Brits will also need a new visa-waiver to visit Europe this year.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will cost Brits an extra €7 (£6).


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