LONDON— Cleaners working at British Airways (BA) facilities across Heathrow Airport (LHR) have announced strike action during the Christmas travel period, escalating a pay dispute that has been unresolved for more than a year. The industrial action involves more than 80 members of the Unite union employed by outsourcing firm OCS under a soft services contract.
The affected workers clean British Airways offices and operational buildings across four Heathrow terminals, including engineering hangars and cargo facilities. The dispute centres on pay levels that workers and the union say are inadequate given London’s cost of living and the profitability of both British Airways and OCS.
Heathrow Pay Dispute Details
The cleaners are currently paid the UK minimum wage of £12.21 per hour, despite repeated calls since early last year for the London living wage of £13.85 per hour. Unite argues that the gap is significant for workers living and working in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
Workers on similar cleaning contracts at Heathrow, including those employed by Mitie, already receive the London living wage.
Unite says this has created an unfair two-tier system at the airport, despite staff carrying out comparable duties in similar environments.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the employers could easily afford the higher wage, pointing to strong financial performance at both companies.
She said staff have been left struggling financially while senior executives and shareholders benefit from rising profits.
Working Conditions Impact
Beyond pay, Unite has raised concerns about working conditions faced by cleaners employed by OCS. Some workers have remained outsourced employees for decades and are reportedly unable to retire, even into their seventies, due to financial pressure.
The lack of sick pay has also become a major issue, with workers saying they have continued physically demanding cleaning duties while unwell.
Others have returned to work shortly after major medical procedures because they cannot afford unpaid time off.
Unite says many workers have relied on food banks or charity support to cover basic living costs, including rent and utility bills. Some employees are also sharing bedrooms in overcrowded housing to manage expenses.
Strike Schedule
Strike action is scheduled to run from 18 December through 29 December, covering one of the busiest travel periods of the year. A public demonstration is also planned outside Hatton Cross station on 18 and 19 December between 12 pm and 2 pm, with media invited to attend.
Unite regional officer Martin West said negotiations have stalled after months of attempts to engage with OCS and British Airways.
He said the dispute could be resolved quickly if employers agreed to meaningful talks and a fair pay settlement.
Around 40 OCS cleaners working at Heathrow Terminal 5 previously staged walkouts earlier this year over similar concerns.
While OCS is accredited by the Living Wage Foundation for directly employed staff, the union says most of its workforce on external contracts does not receive the real living wage.
Bottom Line
The Christmas strikes highlight ongoing tensions around outsourced labour at major airports, where essential workers say pay and conditions have failed to keep pace with rising living costs.
With talks at a standstill, the dispute now threatens to disrupt operations during a critical holiday period, placing renewed pressure on British Airways and OCS to return to the negotiating table.
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