A UK airport is set to be hit with major disruption as workers vote to strike. The Unite union has announced that 80 staff members at Bournemouth Airport will walk out over pay disputes.
Unite members in baggage handling, check-in, flight dispatching, and plane fuelling have voted to reject a new pay deal and will strike in a few weeks. The action will take place on September 30, October 1, October 16, and October 17. Union members who work for the airport’s fire service are part of a different bargaining agreement and accepted a pay deal, so will not be striking.
Unite regional officer Janet Wall said: “This dispute will inevitably result in major disruption to passengers, but this dispute is entirely the fault of the employer. Offers so far have been rejected as they don’t go far enough to address years of low pay and the fact that workers are struggling financially. However, Bournemouth Airport can stop this highly disruptive strike action by coming back with a new, improved offer.”
Unite said staff are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and the deal offered to them, a 5% rise to the lowest paid and 4.5% to the highest, would “equate to a real-terms pay cut”.
A spokesman said the airport is successful and profitable, increasing charges by 5% and investing £50 million in expanding it, yet workers “struggle to afford essentials following years of low pay.”
Bournemouth serves 950,000 passengers a year and serves 34 destinations across Europe and North Africa. Unite has said flight routes to and from the airport will be “severely impacted”.
Ryanair, which serves 20 destinations from the airport, has stated that it “will continue to operate as normal” during the strike action.
The Express has contacted Bournemouth Airport for comment.
