Travellers can breathe a short sigh of relief after a strike which would have affected Heathrow Airport in the run-up to Christmas has been called off.
The row over pay and conditions of baggage handlers, check-in staff and ground crew employed by Swissport has been settled after a breakthrough in tallks.
Unite the Union stewards will now take the offer, made at talks convened by Acas, back to their members.
The 48-hour industrial action which was due to take place from Friday (December 23) would have seen more than 1,500 staff walkout across 18 airports around the UK.
Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, said: “That the strike is called off is obviously good news for Unite members and very welcome news for passengers.
“No worker likes taking strike action but often the threat of it is the only way to make headway in very frustrating circumstances.
“All along we have said that these workers have a powerful case."
However, the planned strike action on Christmas Day and Boxing Day by British Airways mixed fleet cabin crew in another dispute over pay looks set to go ahead.
Mr McCluskey added: “Lastly, I call upon British Airways to pay heed. This union is clearly open to reasonable negotiations.
"We sincerely hope you take a leaf out of Swissport’s book and meet our members halfway on what is also a very just cause, the call for a living wage and equality for these young workers.”
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