The Unite union warned today that planes would be delayed and grounded during the 72-hour walk-out planned to begin at Britain’s busiest airport on May 4.
Some 50 members of staff at AFS, a company which refuels planes, are protesting about what the union called ‘drastic’ cuts to terms and conditions.
Dozens of airlines face being affected, including major names such as Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Emirates, KLM, American Airlines, Air France and United Airlines.
The union said the strikes were ‘likely to lead to severe disruption to airline services for passengers’ over the first May Bank Holiday weekend.
The proposed new measures, which Unite says involve reduced pension and sickness benefits, are set to apply to all employees recruited since January this year.
AFS, a joint venture between Air BP, Total, Q8 Air and Valero, was accused of ‘attacking the most vulnerable new staff in its workplace’.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘AFS is behaving appallingly by attacking the T&Cs of new members of staff – those it views as the easiest to intimidate.
‘But Unite will not stand for such bully-boy tactics and we will be backing our members in their fight for improved pensions and sick pay for all staff.’
Unite regional officer Kevin Hall added: ‘Our members recognise that if they allow this attack on their conditions to take place, before long this will become the norm.
‘Unite won’t allow that to happen and is standing firm with our members on the picket line.
‘AFS will have to answer directly to the airlines and passengers for the disruption caused by their unmerited actions.’
BAA Heathrow, which operates the airport, said it was ‘working on contingencies with AFS to manage any potential disruption’.
In a statement, it added: ‘AFS are one of a number of suppliers at the airport and the majority of flights are supported by other providers.
‘Passengers can continue to travel with confidence at Heathrow.’
AFS was contacted for comment.
Some 6.7million passengers passed through the airport in May last year.
The latest warnings follow fears that strike action could cause mayhem for family holidays this summer as Heathrow’s new boss at Heathrow Airport pushes ahead with plans to outsource security staff.
New chief executive Thomas Woldbye internally announced plans to make £400million in savings, it was revealed in February.
Mr Woldbye, who replaced John Holland-Kaye in late last year, said measures had to be made in order for the airport to remain profitable.
His comments came as the airport posted pre-tax profits of £38million – after losses of £684million during the pandemic.
BAA Heathrow insisted no jobs were at risk, though Unite said it was ‘considering all options’ in response to concerns about potential effects on their workers.
Earlier this month angry passengers criticized ‘incompetent’ British Airways after their flights were suddenly cancelled wrecking their weekend plans – including a honeymoon and 50th birthday celebration.
Hundreds of passengers were told their flights to Las Vegas and New York were scrapped with emails being sent out in the early hours of the morning.
BA said two transatlantic flights and four short haul flights from Heathrow were scrapped after the aircraft developed technical issues and were taken out of service.
Flights to New York and Las Vegas were affected from Gatwick Airport while those to Berlin, Edinburgh, Jersey and Rome from Heathrow Airport were also cancelled.