"It’s absolute carnage": Manchester Airport baggage handlers 'under more stress than ever' as they battle queues and delays - and they say it's only going to get worse
02.04.2022 - 13:37
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Manchester Airport baggage handlers have said they are ‘under more stress than ever’. Passengers have been faced with delays and queues due to ‘unexpected’ demand over the last few weeks.
Bosses last month warned passengers could face queues for ‘several weeks’ after admitting they are struggling with staff shortages. Manchester Airports Group (MAG) said they have also struggled with the easing of restrictions as well as a large number of bags being rejected at security. But some staff operating at the airport, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they feel the workplace is ‘absolute carnage’.
“We just can’t handle the workload,” one employee, who works in the airport but would not reveal their role, said. “It’s very under-staffed at the moment, things are diabolical. The entire work environment is shocking. A lot of people were furloughed and made redundant.
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"All the companies in the airport just got rid of far too many staff, everyone panicked during the pandemic. Now everything is picking up again, we can’t just get the staff back. It’s absolute carnage right now.”
They added that they have seen first hand how bosses are struggling to recruit new staff. They said a number of long-standing employees are handing their notices in, while some new recruits are leaving after not even completing a day. "We’re not getting many new staff in,” they explained.
“People are coming in, doing the classroom training and when they go to do the training at the Airport, they’re just not coming back the day after - that’s how bad it is. As soon as they see what’s going on, they don’t like it and turn their back on it. Loads of people have