ALL planned strikes at Gatwick Airport have now been suspended, Unite the union has announced.
The news will come as a great relief for Brit holidaymakers who have faced endless travel chaos this summer.
Over 130 security workers were involved in the industrial action over poverty pay, which was confirmed earlier this month.
The staff members involved are employed by ICTS (UK) to scan passengers’ luggage for explosive materials and other dangerous and prohibited items.
Unite said today that a dramatically improved pay offer was made in talks between the two parties, which is now being voted on by its members.
It means that the strikes planned for this weekend, starting from 6am on Saturday August 10 until 6am on Monday August 12, has now been suspended.
It comes just a day after the union had announced four further strike dates in August, running from Tuesday August 20 until Saturday August 24.
All of these have now been cancelled as well.
STRUCK OUT Heathrow and Gatwick Airport August strikes: The latest on planned industrial action this summer
Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: “Today’s pay talks were extremely productive and the new pay offer will be balloted on by members.
“The commitment by ICTS to become a real living wage employer is welcome and Unite will be applying pressure to other Gatwick employers to follow suit.
“Following this pay offer it is hoped that there will be more harmonious industrial relations with ICTS moving forward.”
A spokesperson for ICTS told Sun Online Travel: “We are pleased that Unite have agreed to recommend this offer to our colleagues and to suspend the industrial action planned for 10th & 11th August and 20th-24th August.
“We welcome this outcome, as will the thousands of passengers whose holidays will now go to plan this weekend and later this month.
“We believe this offer to be not only rewarding but importantly gives our colleagues long term wage certainty and job security.”
The ICTS were one of two groups of workers at Gatwick who were voting on the industrial action over poverty pay rates last month.
Unite also balloted members employed by outsourcing giants ISS.
These workers are involved in maintaining the facilities at Gatwick airport, for example making sure that toilets have the appropriate materials, as well as helping with moving luggage and rearranging furniture.
The details of the ballot and any potential strikes have yet to be announced.
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This isn’t the only strike that could affect Brits this summer.
BA pilots have just confirmed a strike although the dates are yet to be announced.
Sun Online Travel has contacted ICTS for an updated comment.