LONDON—Six hundred baggage and cargo handlers at London’s Gatwick airport began a series of 24- and 12-hour strikes September 25 backed by the Transport and General Workers Union. Earlier in the year their employer, Servisair, the second largest of four Gatwick handling agents, imposed new working practices that threaten health and safety and don’t allow for adequate rest times between shifts. The union members’ determination to strike was fueled by the company suspension of their senior shop steward. The four strike days so far were followed by 12-hour strikes October 13 and 15.

“This isn’t just about pay and conditions. It’s about defense of the union,” one of the workers picketing told the Militant. “If they get away with the victimization of our shop steward, they’ll walk all over us.”

Workers from a large number of passing cars and work vehicles on the service road to the airport honked in solidarity. One woman stopped at the busy slip road to hand over cigarettes for the pickets. Servisair has been using management personnel to continue operations.

— CELIA PUGH  
 
 
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