Easter travel chaos looms at London Gatwick Airport as workers strike over unpaid pensions and delayed wages

London Gatwick Airport (LGW), the UK’s second busiest, faces major disruption this Easter as more than 100 Red Handling staff walk out in protest over unpaid pensions and delayed wages. The strike, organised by Unite the union, will affect baggage handlers, check-in agents and flight dispatchers working with airlines such as Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace.

Details on the strike that is affecting London Gatwick Airport 

The strike is expected to cause widespread delays and cancellations from Good Friday (18 April) through to the early hours of Tuesday 22 April, affecting around 50 flights per day. Passengers should prepare for long queues, baggage delays and potential last-minute changes.

Unite members are taking industrial action over ongoing issues, the most serious being Red Handling’s failure to properly manage its company pension scheme. Staff report missing or incorrect contributions and, in some cases, pensions not set up at all.

In addition, Red Handling has reportedly paid workers late on three occasions over the past year, leaving some waiting up to two weeks. The company has not agreed to compensate affected staff. Unite is also raising concerns over unlawful shift patterns, with staff allegedly denied the legal 11-hour rest period between shifts, as well as proper breaks.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers have had enough of Red Handling playing fast and loose with their retirement plans and waiting weeks for pay they are rightfully owed for their hard work.”

Unite regional officer David Taylor added: “We’re demanding Red Handling pay all outstanding pension contributions and take health and safety issues seriously.”

With Gatwick predicting its busiest period of the year, this industrial action threatens significant travel disruption—though Unite says the fault lies squarely with Red Handling.