Gatwick assisted travel workers announce September strike in pay dispute

More than 220 workers providing assisted travel services at Gatwick Airport are set to strike later this month in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Unite union employed by Wilson James are due to take industrial action from 17 to 21 September and again from 23 to 26 September.

The employees help passengers requiring assistance to board and leave aircraft at the airport.

Unite has warned that the walkouts could lead to longer boarding and disembarkation times and potentially cause delays to short and long-haul flights.

However, the extent of any disruption has not yet been confirmed by Gatwick Airport or individual airlines.

The dispute follows pay negotiations between Unite and Wilson James which the union says have been taking place since May.

According to Unite, its members unanimously rejected a two-year pay offer.

The union says the proposed deal included a 3.4% increase in pay together with a 0.6% non-consolidated bonus and a 0.5% increase in pension contributions for 2026.

It says the offer for the following year would be based on the Consumer Prices Index rate of inflation plus 0.5%.

Unite argues the proposal does not sufficiently address what it describes as years of low pay at the company.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Wilson James is a highly profitable company which can more than afford to put forward a pay deal that reflects the hard work our members do.

"These workers are vital in the smooth running of the airport, doing a key role in assisting passengers on and off flights. Their jobs have become even more difficult as Gatwick has become busier.”

The union says the lowest-paid members involved in the dispute earn £14.71 an hour and argues that employees are facing increased workloads alongside the high cost of living in the Gatwick area.

It has also cited Wilson James's financial performance as part of its case for an improved offer.

Unite claims the company recorded a pre-tax profit of £17.43 million last year and says its highest-paid director received £670,000, compared with £483,000 the previous year.

The union has also pointed to Gatwick Airport Limited's financial performance, saying the airport recorded a pre-tax profit of £464.2 million in 2025.

Those figures form part of Unite's argument in the pay dispute.

Unite regional officer Ben Davis said: "Unite has been trying to negotiate a better pay deal for our members for months, however Wilson James has failed to put forward an offer that is acceptable to workers.

“Industrial action will inevitably disrupt services throughout Gatwick but this is a direct result of Wilson James refusal to make a fair offer to our members. Strikes can be avoided but that requires the company making a significantly improved offer.”

The strike dates announced by Unite cover nine days in September.

Passengers requiring assisted travel during the planned action may wish to check with their airline and Gatwick Airport closer to their date of travel for information about any changes to services.

Company Wilson James has been asked for comment.

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