Staff at Heathrow refuelling firm AFS to strike, says union
Staff at an aviation fuel services firm at London's Heathrow airport have voted to carry out a strike over pay, the Unite union said on Tuesday, in Britain's latest industrial action that threatens more disruption to transport services.
About 93% of union members at Aviation Fuel Services who voted were in favour of a strike after having gone without a pay hike for three years, Unite said, adding that an initial 72-hour strike would begin July 21.
The union said a strike is likely to cause "considerable disruption and delays" throughout Heathrow where AFS provides fuelling services to more than 70 airlines including Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines (AAL.O), United (UAL.O), Delta (DAL.N) and Air France (AIRF.PA) and KLM.
AFS referred a request for comment to Heathrow.
A Heathrow spokesperson said in an e-mailed response that the airport was aware of the proposed strike action.
"We are in discussions with our airline partners on what contingency plans they can implement, including using other fuel suppliers already operating at the airport," the spokesperson added.
The union said a strike is likely to cause "considerable disruption and delays" throughout Heathrow where AFS provides fuelling services to more than 70 airlines including Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines (AAL.O), United (UAL.O), Delta (DAL.N) and Air France (AIRF.PA) and KLM.
AFS referred a request for comment to Heathrow.
A Heathrow spokesperson said in an e-mailed response that the airport was aware of the proposed strike action.
"We are in discussions with our airline partners on what contingency plans they can implement, including using other fuel suppliers already operating at the airport," the spokesperson added.