Baggage handling strikes called off

Baggage handlers and check-in staff at Stansted, Gatwick and Manchester airports have called off their strikes.

The walkouts were planned for August 25 and 29 at the London airports and August 27 and September 1 at Manchester.

Conciliation talks between the Unite and GMB unions and employers Swissport resulted in the strikes being called off.

GMB spokesman Gary Pearce said they had a new offer to put to members after the union rejected what it termed a “paltry” 3% pay rise.

A separate strike organised by security scanner operators at Stansted, who are in dispute with their employer Airport Services, is still due to take place on Bank Holiday Monday.

This affects the security screening of hold luggage, but passengers with carry-on luggage will not be affected.

A spokeswoman for Airport Services said that contingency plans to scan luggage were being drawn up.

■ Meanwhile cleaners on the Eurostar service have also voted to strike on Bank Holiday Monday in a pay dispute.

120 members of the RMT union will walk out for 24 hours on 25 August demanding wages be increased from their current level of £6.37 an hour. Union officials also said cleaners were not paid extra for working Bank Holidays by their employer OCS.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow called the situation a ‘disgrace’ adding there was no pension, sick pay and only the "bare minimum legal holiday entitlement".

The Greater London Authority believes £7.20 is the minimum rate a worker can live on to provide a decent standard of living for themselves and their family in the capital.

A Eurostar spokeswoman said services would run as normal and contingency plans would be in place if necessary. 140,000 passengers are expected to use the service between London, Paris and Brussels during the Bank Holiday weekend.

OCS have refused to comment.