london stansted airport workers who had been due to walk out in May have called off their strike after voting on a new pay offer. The dispute involved more than 100 ABM staff who help disabled passengers and escort travelers through the airport, with the action originally set for 3 May to 6 May. The decision removes an immediate disruption risk at london stansted airport during the first May bank holiday weekend.
Strike plan scrapped after vote on new offer
The planned stoppage had been suspended earlier so members could consider the revised offer, and the industrial action was then cancelled after that process. Unite said the pay offer rejected by members had fallen far short of what workers expected, with many staff said to be paid below the London Living Wage of £14. 80. The union had warned that any action would slow boarding for passengers who rely on the service and could lead to delays to flights at london stansted airport.
The same workers had been scheduled to strike from 17 April to 20 April before that action was called off. Unite said the airport staff had taken on more responsibilities as passenger numbers and flight volumes increased, while pay had not kept pace.
Immediate reaction from union and employer
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said ABM staff do a vital job for passengers at the airport, but were struggling with low pay while their employer made huge profits. She called the situation unacceptable and said workers at ABM had the union’s full support.
Regional officer Steve Edwards said the strike action had been suspended so members could consider a new offer that was on the table. ABM said it wanted to find a fair resolution to the dispute. The company did not immediately add further detail in the material provided.
Why the dispute mattered at London Stansted Airport
The workers involved perform crucial duties, including escorting passengers on and off flights and through the airport. Unite said those jobs are especially important for disabled passengers, making the pay dispute a wider service issue rather than a simple labor row.
In January, Stansted handled more than 1. 89 million passengers, up 2% from the same month a year earlier, adding pressure to any disruption risk. The union also said ABM reported $2. 2 billion in revenue in March, up 6. 1% on the previous year, underscoring the gap it says exists between company performance and worker pay at london stansted airport.
What happens next
With the strike now called off, the immediate focus shifts to whether the new offer can settle the dispute for good. For passengers and airlines, the cancellation eases concern over delays at london stansted airport, but the longer-term issue of pay for ABM staff remains central to the next stage of talks.
