A series of planned strikes at Gatwick Airport due to commence next week have been downgraded, the Unite union has announced.
Close to 600 DHL ground staff will bow out of the first phase of a planned eight-day strike, following an improved pay offer .
The walkout, scheduled from Friday 28 July to Tuesday 1 August, then again from Friday 4 August to Tuesday 8 August, will continue as planned for some 450 workers at ASC, Menzies Aviation and GGS.
DHL staff at Gatwick, who are contracted for EasyJet, will now be balloted on the new offer and will not partake in the first series of strikes (28 July to 1 August). If the workers reject the deal, fresh strike dates will be announced, according to Unite.
The union had previously warned the scale of the strikes would cause “inevitable” disruption to airport operations, with affected carriers including British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair, TUI, Westjet and Wizz.
EasyJet has already cancelled 1,700 flights from Gatwick this summer due to air traffic control (ATC) issues including impending strikes.
In a statement, Unite regional officer Dominic Rothwell urged the remaining companies “to return to the negotiating table and put forward an offer our members will accept”.