Birmingham airport latest to face threat of 'summer strike chaos'
Will PayneBirmingham airport has become the latest to face threat of summer strike chaos as 100 security officers and terminal technicians, as well as aircraft refuellers employed by Menzies, prepare to be balloted for strike action over pay.
Three quarters of the airport workers being balloted are security officers working "unsociable" shift patterns for around £11.50 an hour after facing two years of pay cuts, the Unite union said.
The workers claim without a significant pay rise, recruitment and retention issues at the airport will worsen.
Last year, the workers received a pay rise of 2.8% when the real rate of inflation, RPI, was running at 13.8% – equating to an 11% pay cut. This year, they have been offered 7.75% and a one off £850 payment.
The Menzies workers, who drive and operate tankers and refuel over three quarters of planes at the airport, have rejected a 9% pay offer.
This is again under RPI inflation and does not factor in the 6% pay rise they received last year, which due to inflation was a significant pay cut.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Both Birmingham airport and Menzies can afford to give their workers a fair pay rise and that is exactly what needs to happen.
"Unite workers at Birmingham airport are fed up with pay cuts, especially when they know both companies have combined profits of more than £80 million."
Strikes could begin as early as July and would impact the airport’s operations, leading to significant delays and cancelled flights. The ballot for strike action for security guards and terminal technicians closes on 29 June. The ballot of Menzies workers closes on 3 July.
In response, a spokesperson for Birmingham airport claimed its current pay offer is "well above" the current UK average.
"A substantial majority of our workforce has already had a significant pay rise having accepted the company’s offer," they added, saying the airport will continue discussions with Unite to find an "acceptable" outcome.
"In the event strike action does take place, we are confident the impact will be limited, and we do not anticipate any cancellations."
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