EasyJet passengers flying from London Luton Airport this Christmas are set to face disruption
EasyJet passengers flying from London Luton Airport this Christmas are set to face disruption as around 200 check-in and baggage handling staff employed by DHL have voted to take strike action over pay.
The workers, members of Unite union, are outsourced to easyJet and operate on popular routes to destinations including Spain, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic. They rejected DHL’s latest offer of a 4.5% pay rise, arguing it does not address the cost-of-living crisis and the pay gap with colleagues performing the same work at Gatwick.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “DHL and easyJet can comfortably afford to offer these workers an above-inflation pay rise. It is shameful that hardworking members can’t afford the basics and they are paid less than their counterparts.”
The strike will take place in two phases: from 03:00 on Friday 19 December to 03:00 Monday 22 December, and from 03:00 on Boxing Day (26 December) to 03:00 Monday 29 December. Over these six days, an estimated 410 easyJet flights from Luton are expected to be affected.
Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge added: “Strike action could still be avoided, but that now hinges on DHL returning to negotiations with an offer that is acceptable to our members.”
The Civil Aviation Authority has predicted this will be the busiest Christmas in UK aviation history, with Luton — carrying over 16.2 million passengers in 2023 — likely to be heavily affected.
Number of flights affected by day:
- 19 Dec: 71
- 20 Dec: 60
- 21 Dec: 74
- 26 Dec: 71
- 27 Dec: 60
- 28 Dec: 74
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