UK airport workers to strike in run-up to World Cup

HUNDREDS of workers at London’s Heathrow Airport will walk out in the run-up to the football World Cup this month over demands for better pay, said a British union.

Unite said Friday (Nov 4) that 700 workers involved in ground-handling, airside transport and cargo, and employed by Emirates Group’s airport services subsidiary dnata and Menzies, will strike for three days starting from Nov 18.

The World Cup in Qatar starts on Nov 20.

Unite regional officer Kevin Hall said the strike action would lead to disruptions at Heathrow terminals 2, 3 and 4. He added that Qatar Airways, which has scheduled an additional 10 flights a week during the World Cup, would be particularly affected.

Other airlines including Virgin, Singapore Airlines, Cathay-Pacific and Emirates, will also be hit, the union said.

Heathrow declined to comment on the strikes, while dnata and Menzies did not immediately respond to an emailed request for a comment. REUTERS