STAFF at London City Airport are threatening to walk out - for the first time ever. Ground handling staff face going on strike at the UK airport over a dispute in regards to pay. The GMB union, making up 120 staff members, are demanding a 17 per cent pay increase, with current pay falling below the London Living Wage.
If the strike goes ahead, it will be the first of its kind for the airport. GMB regional organiser Daren Parmenter told Travel Weekly : "Our members are very angry and upset. They work in central London and every other employer at London City pays the London Living Wage .
GGS [Ground Services] don’t pay anywhere near it. “They need to uplift our members pay by 17 per cent to be on a par with Gatwick.” Read more on UK airports He added that staff at London Gatwick have better pay, despite not being in the capital city.
He said: "It would close the airport if they took strike action.” The majority of flights affected would be British Airways . A GGS spokesperson said: “Gatwick Ground Services remains fully committed to talks with the union and working to reach an agreement together.
" Most read in News Travel Sun Online Travel has contacted the airport for additional comment. London City Airport first opened in 1987, with more than 3.4million passengers last year.
The airline flies to destinations across the UK and Europe, including Amsterdam , Frankfurt and Zurich, along with Edinburgh and Glasgow. Some of it's newest flights include London City to Guern.