Wizz Air passengers might have to bear the brunt of fresh strikes disrupting their flight schedules and holiday plans. The ground handling staff employed by GH London has threatened three days of fresh industrial action citing reasons as company’s failure to follow its own disciplinary and grievance process, the disproportionate use of discipline against ethnic minority employees, and the company’s failure to pay wages in full and on time.
The dispute is a result of GH London continually targeting and threatening a Unite rep with disciplinary action, along with the use of CCTV and audio recording of workers in break rooms without agreement, the union claims.
“The strikes will cause huge disruption to Wizz’s schedule but GH London has brought this dispute on itself, commented Richard Gates, regional officer, Unite. “Unite has given the company every opportunity to improve its conduct and it has refused to do so.”
Sharon Graham, the union’s general secretary, said: “GH London’s conduct is appalling. Workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace and the company’s behaviour falls far below that standard. Unite always puts the jobs, pay and conditions of its members first and the workers at GH London will be receiving the union’s unflinching support.”
The union has been attempting to resolve the disputes through negotiations but that GH London has been ignorant of the union’s concerns.
Over 80 Unite members will stage three initial days of strike action. The first 24-hour strike will take place on August 30, followed by further walk outs on September 6 and September 13.
In response, a Wizz Air spokesperson said: “We are in touch with Luton Airport and our ground handling partner and are doing everything within our control to limit disruptions for passengers. In case of any disruptions, we will reach out to any affected passengers who booked directly with the airline via email and SMS and let them know their options as soon as we have an update.”