Around 600 DHL workers based at Gatwick Airport on the EasyJet contract have suspended strikes after voting to accept a 15% pay rise.
Scheduled strikes from 28 July to 1 August will no longer take place.
The employees, who are represented by trade union Unite, have also accepted an uplift in skills pay, which will see their hourly rates increase by between 15% and 31%. A new shift premium of £1.25 per hour for between midnight and 4.59am has also been secured, with workers’ hourly rates rising by 23% and 43% during this time.
A DHL spokesperson said: “We are pleased that Unite has accepted our pay offer and has called off its planned industrial action at our Gatwick operation. We are now focused on delivering excellent service for EasyJet and its customers in the years ahead.”
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, added: “This is an excellent result secured by the steadfast position of our DHL members. Once again, workers are gaining real material benefits from Unite’s absolute focus on improving jobs, pay and conditions.”
Meanwhile, Aircraft Services and Consulting (ASC) and Menzies Aviation workers that are also based at Gatwick Airport are currently balloting on improved offers. If ASC staff reject the pay offer, strike action scheduled between 28 July and 1 August, as well as strikes between 4 August and 8 August, will go ahead. Strikes by Menzies employees between 28 July and 1 August have been suspended, but planned dates between 4 August and 8 August will go ahead if the latest pay offer is rejected.
Strike action by Gatwick Ground Services workers scheduled between 28 July and 1 August has been suspended to allow for talks to continue, with strike action between 4 August and 8 August still scheduled to go ahead if a satisfactory outcome for them is not reached in time.
