Leeds Bradford Airport Strikes Suspended: Fresh Pay Talks Begin
Planned walkouts by more than 130 Unite members at Leeds Bradford Airport have been suspended to allow Acas-brokered pay negotiations to proceed.
By The Aviation Hub
4 min read
Planned strikes involving more than 130 workers at Leeds Bradford Airport have been suspended after both sides agreed to enter fresh pay negotiations brokered by conciliation service Acas. The walkouts had been scheduled to run from 23 October to 2 November.
The suspension comes as a relief to thousands of passengers booked to travel during the school half-term period. As the BBC reports, Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) welcomed the pause and said no disruption was expected to services while talks continue.
Who Is Involved and What Do They Want
The workers in dispute are Unite union members in two groups: air traffic controllers and hourly paid staff working in passport control and passenger assistance. According to the Yorkshire Post, both groups overwhelmingly rejected the airport's latest pay offers before agreeing to pause action.
The core demand from air traffic controllers is pay parity with colleagues at Newcastle Airport. Both LBA and Newcastle are part-owned by Spanish company AENA. The BBC reports that, according to Unite, a starter air traffic controller at LBA earns around £34,000, while the equivalent role at Newcastle is paid £55,000.
For the hourly paid workers, the Yorkshire Post reports that Unite says many earn just above the minimum wage and have been struggling to afford essential living costs.
What the Union Has Said
Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker described the pause as a good-faith gesture rather than a sign the dispute is over. "We have paused action in good faith to have talks with the airport and Acas in the coming days," Whitaker said. "However, our members still have a strong mandate for industrial action. Should these negotiations not lead to an improved deal that is acceptable to our members, we will not hesitate to announce strike action which will have a major impact on the airport."
What Leeds Bradford Airport Has Said
A spokesperson for LBA said the suspension provided "reassurance for thousands of passengers travelling" during the holiday period. The airport added, according to the BBC: "A revised pay offer remains on the table for both our air traffic controllers and our hourly paid colleagues, and both Unite and LBA agree that ACAS support will be helpful to progress the discussions."
The airport has previously described its pay offer as "fair and responsible" and "significantly above inflation," the BBC notes.
A Pattern of Last-Minute Suspensions
This is not the first time planned action at LBA has been paused at a late stage. The BBC reports that air traffic controllers had also been due to walk out from 16 October, but that action was suspended after the airport made a new offer. Workers were balloted on that offer and rejected it, leading directly to the current round of talks.
We covered the escalation of this dispute in detail when the half-term shutdown threat first emerged on 14 October. The pattern of rejection and suspension reflects how far apart the two sides remain on pay.
What Happens If Talks Break Down
Unite has made clear that the suspension is conditional. The Yorkshire Post reports that if the Acas-brokered negotiations fail to produce an acceptable improved offer, the union will not hesitate to announce fresh strike action. Air traffic controller involvement means any future walkout would have a direct operational impact on flights.
Passengers with bookings at LBA can use Airline Search to check which carriers operate through the airport and monitor any service announcements.
The Bottom Line
The suspension of strikes at Leeds Bradford Airport is a short-term reprieve for passengers and the airport, not a resolution. The gap between what workers earn at LBA and what colleagues earn at Newcastle under the same parent company remains the central sticking point. Acas talks are expected to begin within days, and Unite has left little ambiguity about its next step if those talks fall short.
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