Gatwick catering strikes cancelled after shift allowance reinstated

Strikes by airline catering contractors working for dnata at Gatwick have been cancelled after Unite secured the reinstatement of its members’ shift allowances.

The announcement last month meant that airlines such as easyJet and Tui had been facing the possibility of having no food or drink on flights during the planned walkouts in April and May.

The dispute was over dnata’s removal of a shift allowance for all staff last April, which resulted in workers receiving a pay cut of between £1,500 and £2,000, said the union.

More than 100 workers voted for action but the strikes were then postponed to allow for further talks.

Now Unite said it has secured the reinstatement of the shift allowance, with workers receiving full back pay as well as retaining a previously agreed night shift premium.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Unite never tolerates attacks on our members’ jobs, terms or conditions and I am pleased this dispute has been successfully resolved.”

Unite regional officer Dominic Rothwell added: “This result could not have been achieved without the hard work of Unite’s dnata workplace reps and shows the power of being in a union.”

EasyJet had said it would work with dnata to ensure “contingency plans” were in place if the action had gone ahead.