Unite the Union confirmed on 22 September that it has ‘paused’ strike action by 227 Wilson James staff who provide special-assistance services at London Gatwick following an enhanced pay proposal. The workers had been due to walk out from 17–21 September and again from 23–26 September, threatening major disruption for passengers requiring wheelchair and transfer support—many of whom are elderly business travellers or family members accompanying assignees. While the first strike window was called off at the last minute, the second period remains on the calendar pending a ballot. If rejected, action would coincide with the peak Monday morning rush on 23 September, potentially delaying crew rotations and causing missed connections for onward long-haul flights. Airlines typically cannot board passengers who need assistance unless ground staff are available at both departure and arrival airports, meaning contagion effects could spread across networks. Corporate mobility teams moving employees with reduced mobility—or family members with disabilities—should monitor the ballot outcome and arrange additional support or alternative routings where necessary. The dispute mirrors pay rows at Heathrow and Manchester earlier this year and underscores the tight labour market for ground-handling roles since Brexit ended access to a large pool of EU workers. Unite says Wilson James staff earn as little as £10.85 an hour, below the £12 London Living Wage that takes effect in April 2027. For globally mobile companies, the episode highlights the need to incorporate accessibility-risk assessments into travel policies, including contingency budgets for private assistance services if airport support becomes unreliable.
Source: Unite the Union
