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NEWS: Gatwick and Birmingham airport strike details and use Virgin Points for rail + win 1 million points

  • 14/07/2023
  • Michele

950 workers who are members of the Unite union are set to take eight days of strike action at Gatwick Airport beginning later this month in a dispute over pay. The workers are employed by four companies: ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS and DHL Services Ltd. All four companies conduct outsourced operations for major airlines primarily undertaking ground handling, baggage handling, ramp agent, dispatchers and check-in agents roles. 

The dispute is over pay with the Unite union saying that the majority are paid on average under £12.00 an hour, “despite undertaking highly demanding and safety-critical roles”. 

The workers will strike initially for four days beginning on Friday 28 July ending on Tuesday 1 August. Then a further four days from Friday 4 August until Tuesday 8 August.

Gatwick Check In
BA Gatwick Check In

The airlines affected include: British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair, TUI, Westjet and Wizz.

In addition to the four companies where an industrial action mandate has already been secured, Unite is also balloting its members at DHL Gatwick Direct, Red Handling and Wilson James. All three ballots will close on Monday 31 July if workers vote for industrial action, the strikes in these companies could begin by the middle of next month.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members at Gatwick Airport undertake incredibly demanding roles and are essential to keeping the airport and airlines working, yet their employers somehow think it is acceptable to pay them a pittance.

“As part of Unite’s unyielding focus on the jobs, pay and condition of its members the union has drawn a line in the sand and is committed to eradicating the scourge of low pay at the airport.”

Heathrow has successfully managed to keep running in the face of strikes but given the sheer numbers at Gatwick and the smaller operation, it is hard to see how some disruption is not inevitable. I can see airlines asking or mandating flying hand baggage only. British Airways outsourced its ground operations at Gatwick to a separate company in 2020 during Covid. 

 

Birmingham update

Birmingham Airport

I recently wrote about a potential indefinite strike from 10 August at Birmingham in this article. Unite Union has challenged the decision to allow agency workers to be used in strikes through a judicial review coordinated by the TUC. The government decided to reverse the ban on employers hiring agency workers during strike action in July 2022,

The High Court has today upheld the unions’ judicial review. The 2022 amendment to the regulations has now been quashed due to the government’s failure to consult prior to implementing their proposals, as required by legislation.

This means that during strikes such as at Birmingham, the airport will not be able to hire agency workers to keep the airport running. 

 

You can now use Virgin Points for trains and win 1 million points

Rail passengers in Great Britain can now use Virgin Points to save on their train tickets. From now on, anyone buying a train ticket with Virgin Trains Ticketing will be able to save money by putting Virgin Points towards all or part of the cost of their journey.

Travellers that book any train ticket across Great Britain via Virgin Trains Ticketing will also earn three Virgin Points for every £1 spent. Redemption start from a minimum 200 points, and you will need the latest version of the Virgin Trains Ticketing app in order to redeem Virgin Points on train travel via the app. 

To celebrate the launch, Virgin Trains Ticketing is giving customers the chance to win one million Virgin Points with every train booking. All you need to do is book your train travel on the Virgin Trains Ticketing app between 13 July – 27 August 2023 and use your unique promotional code to enter the prize draw on Virgin Red.   

Virgin Trains Ticketing offers cheap fare finder, split ticket options, and zero booking fees on all tickets. In terms of value of redeeming points this way, you can redeem 200 points for a Greggs sausage roll which is worth £1.20, but a train ticket may be better for your waistline! If you compare the highest redemption of 50,000 points which gives you £250 off a train ticket, it becomes clear that it is not the best value you can get from your points. With 50,000 you could get a return flight to South Africa in standard season in Premium Economy which is worth a lot more than £250!

Redemption amounts: 

  • 200 points – £1 discount 
  • 500 points – £2.50 discount 
  • 1,000 points – £5 discount 
  • 2,000 points – £10 discount
  • 4,000 points – £20 discount
  • 5,000 points – £25 discount
  • 8,000 points – £40 discount 
  • 10,000 points – £50 discount 
  • 12,000 points – £60 discount 
  • 15,000 points – £75 discount
  • 20,000 points – £100 discount 
  • 50,000 points – £250 discount 

Visit virgintrainsticketing.com for more information, and download the Virgin Trains Ticketing app today to start earning points. 

 

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