Gatwick strike is on

The 48-hour strike at Gatwick airport from tonight is on after union leaders rejected a last-ditch appeal to call off the baggage handlers' action.

The strike, from midnight, has been condemned because it clashes with the start of the half-term holiday and threatens to disrupt family travel plans.

Employer Servisair said the principal reason for the strike - the seventh stoppage in the eightmonth dispute - is the suspension of a Transport & General Workers Union shop steward.

A company spokesman described the strike as "regrettable". He added: "The union convener at the centre of the dispute has agreed to participate in the proposed disciplinary-process, scheduled to take part in early November. Given that this process is central to the dispute, Servisair has urged the T&G to reconsider its action.

"Contingency plans are in place to ensure minimum disruption to the travelling public over this school holiday weekend."

Travellers are urged to turn up at their correct time. Servisair, the airport's second-largest ground handler after British Airways, has drafted in workers, including managers, from other departments and areas to replace those who walk out. Some airlines have also hired additional workers to ensure their flights operate on schedule.

The union, which will have pickets at Gatwick, has not named the shop steward at the centre of the dispute. It is alleged that in July he incited workers to take action

and "bad-mouthed" the company.

A union source said: "Tempers did get frayed but the shop steward was trying to calm the situation."

The union rejected Servisair's claim that the dispute was over one senior steward who refused to accept the disciplinary process. Ian McCoulough, T&G regional industrial organiser, said the origin of the dispute was over changed working practices and dated back to February.

Servisair looks after easyJet, Ryanair, Delta, Continental and Emirates. It also serves charter airlines including Thomas Cook, Britannia, My Travel and Excell. BA flights are not affected.

Servisair said the effect on travellers so far had been "minimal" - but the T&G insisted the company had been put to "huge expense" drafting in managers and alternative staff from all over the country.

A T& G spokesman added: "Because the staff who were drafted in were not experienced there were 12 people instead of the usual four for every flight.

"This has demonstrated to the company the sort of pressure our members are under every day. It was never our intention to cause flights to be cancelled."