Further Gatwick strikes announced

Workers have already held two 24-hour strikes at Gatwick

Two more strike dates have been announced in the baggage handlers dispute at Gatwick Airport.

After talks on Monday between The Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) and Servisair broke down strikes on Wednesday and Friday were confirmed.

But on Tuesday the union said members will stage further 12-hour walkouts on Wednesday and Friday next week as well.

The TGWU said three more members of staff had been suspended on Tuesday morning in relation to the dispute.

Same contingency plans

The dispute with airport services firm Servisair is over workloads, working practices and what the TGWU describes as "victimisation" of a union steward who had been suspended.

Two 24-hour strikes have already been held, but Servisair said they had no effect and planes had in fact left early because of the efficiency of managers called in to do the baggage handlers' work.

This week's two strikes are both planned to start at 0800 BST and the company said it would put the same contingency plans in place.

Servisair said the company regretted that talks had failed to end the dispute and said passengers should turn up as normal for their flights.

TGWU regional officer Madeleine Richards said the union was "determined to get a settlement".

She said: "The only way we feel we can bring Servisair back to the negotiating table and to get them to talk constructively is to continue to show them they are out of step with their workforce.

"The support from our members remains strong and committed to taking more strike action if that is necessary."

Servisair is one of four baggage handling companies at Gatwick, covering more than 20 airlines including Ryanair, Air Malta, Britannia, Thomas Cook, Easyjet, Excel Airways, Mytravel, Continental and Delta.