More air travel misery ahead as severe disruption could hit Ryanair flights at Stansted airport this summer

GMB Union is potentially entering into a formal dispute with ABM Blue Handling after talks broke down.

GMB members employed by ABM Blue Handling took a blow of a 10% pay cut in 2020 when air travel was heavily hit due to the pandemic have rejected their employer’s pay offer of 4% on basic pay. ABM, providers of ground handling services for all Ryanair flights at London Stansted airport are to be balloted for industrial actions over pay.

Ryanair operates more than 200 flights per day from Stansted during the summer, any industrial action by our members will have a severe impact on flights.

Daren Parmenter, GMB London Regional Organiser said:

“After months of negotiations between GMB and the employer, the last meeting on Wednesday 1st June offered no acceptable progress. Unfortunately, the employer has not put any improved offer forward agreeable to our members, this leaves us with no alternative but to ballot our members for industrial action.

“ABM’s actions are mind-boggling. The aviation industry is struggling to recruit and retain staff as demonstrated at airports recently with utter chaos and flight cancellations caused by the shortage of staff. We find it incredible that the employer refuses to award our members a decent pay increase, especially whilst its profits increase.”

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Contact: Daren Parmenter, GMB London Region Organiser 077 2579 1833.