Heathrow should waive parking fees for low paid staff, says union

A trade union has called on Heathrow Airport to waive parking fees for lower paid workers such as cleaners and security guards.

The union said that aircraft cleaners, terminal cleaners and security guards are facing reduced incomes but still being charged between a £50 to £70 a month to park their cars at the airport.

GMB London is calling on the board of directors of Heathrow Airport to overturn a management decision not to waive car parking charges for lower paid workers at the airport currently working on reduced pay on the grounds that they needed to protect the income stream of the company.

In its response to GMB London, Heathrow’s management said that if it made such a gesture for the lower paid. The letter said: “Heathrow would be asked to waive these costs for other organisations too, thereby significantly impacting one of our remaining revenue streams, which in the current climate is not an option we can consider.”

Perry Phillips GMB regional organiser for aviation at Heathrow, responded: “This is the wrong call by the management to rely on car parking charges from lower paid workers on reduced pay to preserve an income stream.

“GMB London calls on the Heathrow board of directors to overturn it. The sums of money involved are small and will no way have an impact on the airport to remain a viable and operational business for the future as last months record passenger numbers and generated revenue suggests.”