Heathrow Airport is currently dealing with a strike by security guards who are members of the Unite union. Talks broke down on Wednesday over a pay dispute, leading to the first in a series of

planned stoppages. Despite this, the airport has stated that it is operating as usual, with contingency plans in place and no flights being cancelled as a result of the strike.

According to a Heathrow spokesperson, the contingency plans are working well, and passengers can expect to travel as normal. They further stated that the airport has deployed an additional 750 colleagues, including the entire management team, who will be on hand in the terminals to provide assistance to passengers. The majority of colleagues do not support the strike action and have been offered a pay increase matching inflation for two years, along with a lump sum. However, the union's refusal to allow members to vote on the offer has resulted in the strike.

Unite regional co-ordinating officer, Wayne King, said that the union had given Heathrow Airport every opportunity to make an improved pay offer that could have led to the strike action being suspended. However, Heathrow refused to make an offer that could meet members' expectations. Photo by Ed Webster, Wikimedia commons.