(GATWICK) A planned walkout by baggage screeners that threatened to halt flights at Gatwick Airport over the late August Bank Holiday has been called off after staff accepted a new pay deal. Unite the union said on August 26 that ICTS baggage screeners voted to back an improved offer, ending the strike scheduled for August 29 to September 2, 2025. The airport now expects to run a normal schedule through the busy late August and early September travel period, avoiding widespread delays and cancellations.
The vote came after several tense weeks. The strike had been timed to hit one of the heaviest travel windows of the year and followed an earlier stoppage from August 22–26. Because the baggage screeners serve the entire airport rather than one airline, the action would have affected all carriers and all routes.
Unite said workers, who were paid just above the minimum wage, had pushed for a substantial increase to reflect rising costs and the vital role they play in keeping flights moving.
Pay agreement and key terms
Under the deal, screeners will receive a 7% increase in hourly pay, backdated to April 2025. The package also offers double pay for shifts on Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
The agreement was reached after ICTS returned to talks with a better proposal. The company had reported a pre-tax profit of £6.1 million in 2024, a 46.9% jump from the previous year — a point Unite highlighted during the dispute to argue the employer could do more for its lowest paid staff.
Important highlights:
– 7% pay rise, backdated to April 2025
– Double pay on key public holidays (Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day)
– Arrears due to staff for the April–payslip period until the higher rate is implemented
“Workers’ unity and the union’s pressure strategy” were credited for the outcome by Unite’s leadership.
Unite’s General Secretary, Sharon Graham, credited the outcome to the workers’ unity and the union’s pressure strategy. Regional Officer Ben Davis praised the screeners for holding firm through the previous action and said the result should encourage other airport staff on low pay to organise.
ICTS, which had initially resisted the union’s demands, agreed to the improved package after talks resumed, according to Unite. The company did not issue a detailed public statement about the negotiations but accepted the deal, closing the threat of further walkouts for now.
Impact on operations and timing
Gatwick Airport welcomed the decision and posted on X that it looks forward to operating as normal in the coming days. The timing matters: industry observers said the late August Bank Holiday is one of Britain’s busiest travel stretches, with more than two million passengers expected to fly over August 23–25.
Avoiding a second strike period ensures airport teams can focus on clearing any residual backlogs from the earlier stoppage while keeping holiday traffic on track.
Key operational effects:
– Normal operations expected for August 29–September 2, 2025
– Airport-wide bag screening stoppage averted — prevents cascading delays across all carriers
– Ground teams can prioritise clearing backlogs from the earlier action
Passenger operations, rights and practical advice
For travellers, the immediate message is simple: no disruption is expected during August 29–September 2, 2025. Keep your travel plans, arrive on time, and follow your airline’s check-in and baggage cut-off rules. Gatwick Airport says it aims to deliver a normal summer schedule.
If your flight was pushed or changed during the earlier industrial action, your airline should already be in touch about rebooking.
Passenger care and compensation:
– When strikes happen outside an airline’s control, cash compensation may be limited under the “extraordinary circumstances” rule.
– Airlines must still provide care when rebooking is needed (meals, hotel stays where required).
– For official guidance, see: Your rights when flights are delayed or cancelled.
Practical travel tips for the busy days ahead:
– Keep your airline app active for gate and timing updates.
– Pack medicines, chargers and a day’s essentials in your hand baggage in case checked bags arrive late.
– Check baggage size and weight rules to avoid last-minute repacking at the counter.
Why baggage screeners matter
Baggage screeners handle the security screening of checked luggage before it goes onto an aircraft. Their work is essential to every departure at Gatwick Airport, regardless of airline. If they stop, the airport cannot load and clear bags for takeoff at scale, and flights quickly back up — which is why the planned action would have affected all carriers.
With the new pay deal approved, airport leaders say normal operations can continue without the cascading delays that bag screening stoppages can cause.
Background, wider context and potential ripple effects
The roots of this dispute go back months. Unite has argued that baggage screeners at Gatwick are among the lowest paid on site and that wages have not kept pace with living costs. The union has led several airport pay fights across the UK in 2024–2025.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the pay uplift and holiday premiums at Gatwick could shape talks for other groups of low-paid workers at major airports who are watching how this settlement was reached and what it delivers on pay slips.
Sequence of events:
1. Initial round of industrial action (August 22–26) demonstrated disruption potential.
2. ICTS returned to talks after the first action and offered an improved package.
3. Screeners voted to accept the new deal, ending the planned August 29–September 2 walkout.
The 7% backdated rise means staff should receive arrears covering April 2025 to the date the new pay appears on payslips — a practical detail that matters to workers who faced months of uncertainty.
Analysts note that avoided disruption at Gatwick also helps the wider network. When a London hub stalls, knock-on effects spread to regional UK airports and short-haul European destinations. With the new pay deal in place, airlines can keep aircraft and crews cycling through slots rather than scrambling for last-minute workarounds.
What this resolves — and what remains
The settlement does not solve every pressure in UK aviation, but it resolves the immediate risk of an airport-wide halt at Gatwick Airport. The outcome:
– Staff receive a defined pay rise and added holiday premiums.
– Gatwick can move forward into September with normal operations.
– Passengers who had been bracing for more cancellations can take their trips as planned.
Unite says it will keep working with members if further issues arise and noted that no further strikes are planned at this time. For airport employers, the outcome underscores the cost of holding out when critical teams feel underpaid. For workers, it shows collective action can bring employers back to the table.
This Article in a Nutshell
ICTS baggage screeners accepted a 7% pay rise backdated to April 2025, plus double holiday pay, cancelling the August 29–September 2 strike and ensuring normal Gatwick operations during the busy bank holiday.
