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Some of the strikes planned by baggage handlers and other workers at Britain's no.2 airport Gatwick in the peak summer travel period have been suspended or canceled, the Unite trade Union said on Monday. The union said earlier this month that airlines including easyJet, TUI, and British Airways could face cancellations and delays after two sets of four-day strikes by 950 workers were announced for late July and early August.
But improved pay offers mean that DHL workers, who provide services to easyJet, have canceled their walkouts completely after they voted to accept a 15% pay rise, the union said. Workers for Menzies and ASC are balloting on improved pay offers, raising the possibility that they could also cancel their planned strike action if they accept the new deal. Currently, ASC workers have not yet suspended their walkouts, while Menzies has suspended some of them.
A fourth set of workers, who are contracted by GGS, have suspended strikes between July 28-Aug.1 to allow negotiations to continue but are still due to walk out Aug. 4-8. "Talks with GGS are progressing in a positive direction," Unite said in a statement on Monday. As well as the threat of strike action, Britain's travel industry is also facing difficulties from wildfires in Rhodes, Greece, a popular destination, with airlines busy adding extra services to bring back stranded customers.