Workers at Heathrow to strike in World Cup run-up

Strike enactment by hundreds of workers astatine Heathrow Airport could deed shot fans heading to the World Cup successful Qatar, a national has warned.

Unite said 700 workers who enactment successful the crushed handling, airside transport and cargo broadside of the airdrome volition spell connected onslaught for 3 days from 18 November.

It said the onslaught enactment would origin disruption and delays astatine Heathrow terminals 2, 3 and 4.

The staff, employed by Dnata and Menzies, are calling for higher pay.

"Strike enactment volition inevitably origin disruption, delays and cancellations to flights passim Heathrow, with travellers to the World Cup peculiarly affected," Unite determination serviceman Kevin Hall warned.

The World Cup is acceptable to statesman successful Qatar connected 20 November and the national said it expected Qatar Airways, which has enactment connected other flights for shot fans, to beryllium "hit heavily" by the onslaught action.

But Unite wide caput Sharon Graham said the union's members astatine Dnata and Menzies "are simply seeking a decent wage rise".

She added: "Both companies are highly profitable and tin afloat spend to marque a just wage increase."

The national said different airlines, including Virgin, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Emirates volition besides beryllium affected.

Passengers travelling to the United States for the Thanksgiving vacation mightiness besides beryllium hit.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "We are alert of projected concern enactment from Dnata and Menzies colleagues astatine Heathrow, and we are successful discussions with our hose partners connected what contingency plans they tin instrumentality to enactment their crushed handling should the onslaught spell ahead."

The spokesperson added that the airport's precedence is to guarantee passengers are not disrupted by immoderate shortages of hose crushed handlers.