Almost a thousand easyJet ground staff and baggage handlers at Gatwick airport employed by DHL have negotiated a pay boost worth on average 7.5 per cent over two years.

The workers will also get a bonus worth over £500 a year and an increase in overtime payments, including double time for working on bank holidays.

And, in a further boost to workers’ terms and conditions, the company’s sick pay policy has also been markedly improved.

The deal means that a typical worker would be in line for an increase of over £2,000 in the first year of the deal including the bonus, Unite said.

Unite regional officer Jamie Major added: “Baggage handlers and ground staff employed by DHL have negotiated a significant boost in pay well above the rate of inflation.

“During the pay talks Unite and DHL worked constructively to develop a transparent pay strategy which is fair and gives workers the opportunity to progress.

“Unite’s organising strategy has meant that hundreds of new members joined the union which in turn gave Unite more influence during negotiations.

“This above inflation pay deal once again shows that when pay is falling flat across the economy it pays to be in a union.”