Strikes by DHL workers at Gatwick Airport have been suspended pending a ballot on a new pay offer.
The company’s 600 workers at the airport, who work in support of easyJet’s operations, will not walk out from 28 July to 1 August as planned, the Unite union announced.
But it said that strike action by 450 ASC, Menzies Aviation and GGS workers would still go ahead over the period, adding that the ballot would determine whether the DHL workers join them in the second wave of strikes due to run from 4 August to 8 August.
Unite regional officer Dominic Rothwell said: “As an act of good faith, Unite’s Gatwick DHL members have agreed to suspend their first set of strikes while they are balloted on the new offer.
“Strikes by ASC, Menzies and GGS workers are still scheduled to go ahead.
“Unite urges the remaining employers to return to the negotiating table and put forward an offer our members will accept.”
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Gatwick had said last week that it was activating contingency plans to deal with the threat of disruption from the disputes.
They threaten to build on the likelihood of wider delays across Europe’s skies this summer due to air traffic control strikes on the continent.
EasyJet, which has Gatwick as its main airport of operations, announced earlier this month that it had been forced to cancel 1,700 scheduled services due to the threat of disruption.
