The planned strike by the baggage scanning staff at Stansted airport, UK, has been called off after the staff reached an agreement with employers, Mitie.
The strike, which was announced after a dispute over pay, was originally planned from August 23 to 26, with action to be effective between 3.30am and 6am and 3.30pm and 6pm each day. The UK trade union, GMB, has now said that its members had reached an agreement after talks between the two parties.
The dispute involving baggage scanners began in June this year when Mitie, the contractor who employs the GMB members to run the baggage system, imposed pay cuts that included a cut in premium rates for night work and overtime by 3.5 percent, and increased pay rates of 2 percent.
The decision to strike was initially made after 92 percent of members voted in favour of action. The strike could have caused significant delays for passengers or leave them with the option of travelling with cabin luggage alone.
GMB said that they were pleased that Mitie had agreed to pay members what they had been asking for since October 2012. ‘GMB members employed by Mitie at Stansted Airport have voted to accept an improved offer and GMB have now informed the company that strike action has been withdrawn’.
Gary Pearce, GMB Regional officer, said: ‘I am glad that common sense has prevailed and that Mitie has agreed to pay what GMB members have been asking for since October of last year.
‘I have now given notice to the company that the strike action has now been withdrawn.’
