Fears over Stansted pay dispute

Baggage handlers at Stansted airport are threatening to strike during the bank holiday weekend over a pay dispute.

Meetings are ongoing between the GMB and Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) negotiators along with representatives from Swissport, the ground crew company for Stansted.

The baggage handler's strike is pencilled in for Saturday morning beginning at 05.00 and continuing until 08.00 on Sunday and then the same times for Monday and Tuesday.

Gary Pearce from GMB stated: "Our members at Stansted deeply regret having to take this type of action but because of the company's action have been left with no alternative.

"This action will severely disrupt the Ryanair, easyJet and charter flights out of Stansted over the four days during the bank holiday."

This latest threat of travel disruption comes after the UK's major airlines have just got back to providing a normal service following the terror scare on August 10th.

Passengers looking to get away on the bank holiday are understandably anxious at the threat of delays; however, union members are unmoved from their objective.

"GMB members who provide essential services to airlines that are very profitable are facing huge increases in the cost of living and need a decent pay rise and those who are sick can not afford a drop in income," Mr Pearce added.