Gatwick 12-hour walkout now over

Workers have already held two 24-hour strikes at Gatwick

A 12-hour strike by baggage handlers at Gatwick Airport on Wednesday failed to have an affect on flights.

The Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) said the action by Servisair baggage handlers was solidly supported.

Picket lines were mounted at airport approach roads from 8am as part of a dispute over workloads.

Strikes are also planned for this Friday, and 13 and 15 October, forcing managers from the company to deal with the luggage.

The TGWU says changes in working practices have resulted in "exhausting workloads" for its 600 staff who work for Servisair in Gatwick.

We are ready and willing to meet at any time to resolve this dispute which we hope will happen in the near future Andrew Saunders, Servisair

The union was also further angered when the company suspended its shop steward in July this year.

Talks between the union and the company broke down on Monday.

Both parties say they are ready to negotiate, but no further meetings have been scheduled.

Servisair Gatwick director Andrew Saunders said on Wednesday: "We are ready and willing to meet at any time to resolve this dispute which we hope will happen in the near future.

"We will continue to minimise disruption to the travelling public and will work with our airline partners to maintain a full service."

Servisair is one of four baggage handling companies at Gatwick.

It covers more than 20 airlines including Ryanair, Air Malta, Britannia, Thomas Cook, Easyjet, Excel Airways, Mytravel, Continental and Delta.