Unite warns of airport delays during next week's half term
The trade union says there could be delays due to staff shortages
Last updated 27th May 2022
Airport delays could increase during half term next week due to staff shortages, according to a leading trade union.
Unite have warned delays at some airports over next week's half-term holiday and they have warned they will only get worse during the summer.
Why are there expected delays at airports?
Unite are concerned about more airport delays, they say this is a result of the airline industry experiencing staff shortages due to less jobs being available and many still struggling to recruit after Covid.
General secretary Sharon Graham said: "During the pandemic, when airline operators, and others in aviation, slashed jobs to boost corporate profits, we warned this corporate greed would cause chaos in the industry.
"The aftermath of mass sackings is now chronic staff shortages across the board, aviation chiefs need to come clean with the public… this is a crisis of their making.
"We are determined that workers will not pay for this crisis, current pay and conditions in the industry are so poor that workers are voting with their feet.
"It can only be resolved by offering higher wages and better working conditions for staff."
‘Staff working overtime’
Unite said staff were being urged to work more overtime.
National officer Oliver Richardson added: "Unite will not accept our members being forced by their employers to work excessive overtime.
"Relying on staff overtime to run the business can't be a long-term solution, until the sector addresses the fundamental structural problems it has, delays, cancellations and chaos will continue."
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