ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Luton Airport cleaners are planning to take strike action this month over a pay dispute.

The walkouts will mean that the airport's toilets will remain unserviced and that all communal areas will not be cleaned during the two separate 24-hour strike periods.

The first strike is due to begin at 6.30am today, August 11, while the second is scheduled for August 30. The 30-plus workers involved are all members of the Unite union and are employed by Sasse on an outsourced contract.

They are paid £10.90 an hour and have rejected an increase of five per cent for day workers and seven per cent for night workers.

"Passengers using Luton Airport this month should be braced for toilet hell," said Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge. "Toilets will not be cleaned, toilet paper will not be replaced, bins will be overflowing and the airport will be dirty."

A Luton airport spokesperson said: "Whilst we cannot comment on the dispute between Unite and Sasse, contingencies are in place to ensure there is no impact for passengers."

Various other UK airport strikes have been narrowly averted this summer. In June it was announced that Unite members working at Edinburgh airport had called off a potential summer strike after accepting a new pay deal.

And a second strike at London's Gatwick Airport was called off at the eleventh hour after workers agreed to an improved pay offer. Ground handlers working for four companies at Gatwick were set to walk out on two successive weekends from July 28.