Heathrow strikes could threaten the World Cup: Union ballots 700 workers for industrial action which would ‘inevitably’ cause ‘severe disruption’ for football fans travelling to Qatar next month
- More than 700 airline workers could strike days before the World Cup kicks off
- A vote on whether staff will walk out begins today and ends on November 3
- If backed, the industrial action is expected to cause severe delays at Heathrow
- Firms hit will include Qatari Airlines, Virgin, Singapore Airlines and Emirates
Football fans hoping to jet out to Qatar to see the World Cup could be hit with travel chaos amid looming plans for airline workers to go on strike.
More than 700 transport, cargo and ground staff at Heathrow Airport will today vote on whether they will stage a walk-out over pay.
If backed, the industrial action will start just before the footballing spectacle kicks off on November 20.
The strike is being staged by activists from the Unite union and involves workers from Menzies and Dnata.
It is expected to cause ‘severe delays’ to services by Qatari Airlines, which has scheduled an extra 10 flights a week during the World Cup.
Unite regional officer Kevin Hall said: ‘Strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption and delays across Heathrow, especially for football supporters travelling to the World Cup.
Football fans looking to jet off to Qatar to watch the World Cup could face travel chaos if airline workers back plans to strike next month. Pictured is a file photo of queues at Heathrow Airport
‘However, this dispute is entirely of Dnata’s and Menzies’ own making and they know what to do to resolve this, which is to make our members a fair pay offer.’
Other airlines anticipated to be hit by the walk-out include Virgin, Singapore Airlines, Cathay-Pacific and Emirates.
Balloting action begins today and will conclude on November 3. An exact date for any potential strike has not been released.
However, a spokesman at Unite told MailOnline that two weeks’ advanced notice had to be given, making the earliest date for industrial action November 17.
Dnata has offered its workers a five per cent increase, while the offers for Menzies workers vary between two and six per cent.
But Unite said that all the offers are ‘far below the real rate of inflation’, which currently stands at 12.3 per cent.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Both Dnata and Menzies can easily afford to make our members a fair pay offer and should do so.
‘No matter how the employers present the offers on the table, they are substantial real-terms pay cuts and unacceptable to our members.
‘Unite is dedicated to defending and enhancing our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and the workers at Heathrow will receive the union’s complete support.’
The announcement comes just days after police announced measures to stop drunken British football yobs from attending the World Cup.
In a major crackdown, police have demanded that 1,308 violent and abusive fans in England and Wales, subject to a football banning order, hand in their passports.
The clampdown will begin on Friday. Those who want to travel to nations not staging matches will need permission to keep their passports and will face checks.
Police can also stop previous offenders going. In an operation at ports, any caught trying to go to Qatar will be intercepted and face a banning-order court hearing within 24 hours.
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