LUTON Airport staff are set to strike for a second time this month amid disagreements over security guard working hours.
The planned walk out is scheduled to take place this Thursday (May 23) until June 3 – lasting 12 days in total.
Staff went on strike over the first May Bank Holiday weekend for nearly two weeks, with walk outs between May 1 and May 5, as well as between May 7 and May 13.
Security staff are planning to strike again due to claims that new shift patterns will result in them working an extra 15 days a year, with only nine weekends a year off work.
Despite their strike earlier this month, Unite claim the airport is trying to "force" staff to work unsocial hours.
Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said: "Security guards at Luton Airport are preparing to step-up their campaign against management’s heavy handed changes.
"The airport is trying to force their staff to work significantly more unsocial hours. Workers will only get nine weekends a year off and will have to work an extra 15 days a year.
"Unite has notified Luton Airport that the workers are planning 12 days of strike action which include the bank holiday weekend.
"Unite believes the recruitment of security staff has not matched increasing passenger numbers and the airport is heaping the burden on its existing staff.
"The workers are standing firm and are determined to ensure the airport treats them fairly.
"The airport must suspend the implementation of the new shift pattern to allow further talks. It's time for management to get around the negotiating table to reach a fair deal."
A Luton Airport spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: "We would like to reassure passengers that this strike involves only a small number of our security staff.
"During previous action by the same group of Unite members earlier this month, there was no disruption to passengers with average wait times of five minutes.
"We have the same robust contingency plans in place this time.
"The new shift, which was voted for by affected staff, was introduced to address an imbalance where some security officers were working less than their contracted hours. We remain open to further discussions with Unite."
Last year, Luton Airport was named the worst airport in the UK, scoring badly on seating, bag drop queues and customer satisfaction.
It was the third year in a row it had been voted the worst by Which?.
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