Picture credit: Heathrow
50 Unite members working for AFS will be going on strike on 4 May for 72 hours over the drastic cuts to pension and sickness benefits for new starters, arguing it creates a two-tier workforce and a potential “race to the bottom” for staff across the company.
AFS is a joint venture between Air bp, Total, Q8 and Valero, and the refuellers at Heathrow work with 35 different airlines including Virgin, Delta, Emirates and Air France.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “AFS is behaving appallingly by attacking the T&Cs of new members of staff – those it views as the easiest to intimidate. But Unite will not stand for such bully-boy tactics and we will be backing our members in their fight for improved pensions and sick pay for all staff.”
Unite regional officer Kevin Hall added: “Our members recognise that if they allow this attack on their conditions to take place, before long this will become the norm. Unite won’t allow that to happen and is standing firm with our members on the picket line.
“AFS will have to answer directly to the airlines and passengers for the disruption caused by their unmerited actions.”
