A trade union has warned that passengers flying out of the UK may face “foodless flights” this December as airport catering workers vote for strikes. Over 700 dnata workers at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, London City, Stansted, Bristol, and Birmingham are currently balloting for industrial action. Without staff from dnata, an air services provider of flight catering, a lack of inflight meals and drinks could see travellers go hungry on long and short haul journeys, said the Unite union .
Union members claim that the company unfairly attempted to change their employment terms and conditions “without consultation”. According to Unite, in-flight meal services on major airlines, including easyJet, Tui, American Airlines and Emirates which use dnata, could be impacted if strikes go ahead. At London Heathrow , the UK’s largest airport, 10 airlines use the provider to manage their catering.
The ballot for industrial action, possibly scheduled over the Christmas period, opened this week and will close on 5 December. The Unite union said dnata had refused requests to consult over rostering, variable working, annualised hours, seasonal working, absence management and annual leave allocation for staff. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “dnata’s attempts to bypass its workers and force through damaging changes to terms and conditions will not be tolerated.
Unite’s dnata members have their union’s full and unflinching support in fighting its underhan.