groundog,
Basically, most UK Handlind Agents only eploy staff on a temporary contract for the summer (busiest) season. Sometimes these contracts are extended and made permanent, sometimes not...
Leezyjet,
Seem to recall you work for an airline flying big red and white aeroplanes out of LHR, I was there in 1999 (the job was "Traffic Officer" back then) and it sounds like things have certainly improved...4K pay rise is certainly worth having!