Delays to flights operating out of London Stansted Airport are expected next month, as Unite members based there are balloting for strike action. 

Workers at ABM who look after passengers with disabilities are voting for industrial action over pay after negotiations broke down. Should strikes go ahead, this will cause substantial flight disruption as additional time will be needed to board the passengers who rely on this service.

The 100 plus workers have rejected pay offers from ABM which members believe do not reflect the skilled job they do amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. Many of the workers are paid below the London Living Wage of £14.80 despite the fact that the persons with reduced mobility (PRM) operation which is contracted out to ABM by Stansted owners Manchester Airport Group is a profitable one.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Our members are constantly expected to undertake more and more work, yet ABM is cynically failing to pay a fair wage.

"Our hardworking members at ABM deserve better and will have Unite's full support during this dispute."

 Over the last couple of years, workers at ABM have also seen the number of passengers they work with and flights they deal with increase, leading to more responsibility and pressure being placed on staff and believe they should have a pay increase that reflects this.

Other members are employed to escort passengers via minibuses and Ambis - expensive large vehicles requiring special qualifications equivalent to HGV to operate. 

The ballot closes on 1 April. Strike action could go ahead from mid April.

Unite regional officer Steve Edwards said: "We recognise that people who use PRM services while travelling will be concerned of any delays, but any industrial action is the fault of ABM which is refusing to pay its workers a fair wage.

"Strike action is a last resort for our members at ABM, who care about the roles they do. However, management is not taking their concerns seriously. There is still time to avoid this action, but it relies on ABM coming back to the table with a fair pay offer."

ENDS

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