Passengers who have not purchased travel insurance prior to the announcement of eight days of strike action at Heathrow Airport will now be faced with trip concerns, while users of Glasgow Airport are also at risk of possible disruption amid workers’ pay disputes.
As announced by trade union Unite, 1,400 security officers at Heathrow Airport are taking industrial action on May 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 25, 26, and 27. The strikes follow those held by the same Unite members for 10 days over Easter.
The union believes “inevitable” disruption and delays at Heathrow will result from these additional days of industrial action.
“Our members have been crystal-clear they are seeking a substantial permanent increase in pay,” noted regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King in a release. “A small one-off lump sum payment will not alleviate the financial pressures our members are facing on a daily basis.
“While the CEO can enjoy a lavish millionaire’s lifestyle, our members struggle to pay the bills and put food on the table. This is about need, not greed.”
According to Unite, a Heathrow security officer earns an average salary of £30,000, while Heathrow Airport boss John Holland-Kaye is said to have seen his annual remuneration surge by 88% to £1.5 million in 2021.
Meanwhile, at Glasgow Airport, a pay offer has been turned down by ICTS (International Consultants on Targeted Security) Central Search members.
“Around 250 ICTS Central Search workers have emphatically rejected a derisory pay offer which represents a massive pay cut in real terms,” said Unite regional industrial officer Pat McIlvogue.
“Unless the company improves upon its current offer, then Glasgow Airport faces a summer of travel chaos because it simply can’t operate safely and efficiently without these essential workers. We are encouraging ICTS to heed the warning before this dispute escalates potentially to strike action.”
Strike or industrial action is normally covered under a travel disruption policy.
Aviva, for instance, says this on its website: “Travel disruption cover provides up to £5,000 for cancellation or abandonment cover if you cannot travel or continue your trip for one of the following reasons: strike or industrial action; severe snowfall; the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office advises against travel; food poisoning, pandemic, or catastrophic damage directly affects your holiday accommodation.
“It also provides a benefit of up to £250 if the transport services on which you are booked to travel outside the UK are delayed or cancelled.”
Similarly, firms like Staysure cover trip disruption caused by industrial action as standard.
As insurance policies go, however, the idea is to insure against the unknown or unforeseen – meaning the strikes shouldn’t be already expected when trying to arrange cover.
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