Airport workers to strike over 'tin of beans' rise

Workers who assist disabled passengers at London Stansted Airport are to strike over a pay rise worth "a tin of beans" per week, says a trade union.

Unite said more than 100 members at facilities firm ABM rejected a pay rise worth an extra 1p per hour for the first year, increasing to 2p or 3p in the second year, which the union said amounted to "one extra tin of beans" per week.

It said the majority of staff earnt less than the London Living Wage of £14.80 and would face added pressure with the ongoing expansion of the Essex airport.

ABM said it was "disappointed" to hear strikes were planned between 17 and 20 April, but would continue negotiations to find a "fair" resolution.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "This is one of the meanest so-called pay rises imaginable. Dedicated workers will have to work for an entire week just to buy a tin of beans.

"It is beyond contempt that a profitable company such as ABM is choosing to prioritise greed and exposing its workers to a real-terms pay cut.

"Our members at ABM will be fully supported by Unite throughout this dispute."

Unite regional officer Steve Edwards accused ABM of "putting profits over people" and said it could avoid disruption by returning a "realistic pay offer that reflects the hard work our members do".

An ABM spokesperson said: "It is not accurate to describe the proposal as a 'pennies' increase. The offer we have proposed is a structured, staged pay increase over time, designed to provide an uplift to hourly rates.

"Our immediate priority is to limit disruption to the thousands of passengers with special assistance requirements who use our service every day at Stansted Airport."

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