Staff at Southampton Airport set to walk out in pay dispute

Staff working at Southampton Airport will walk out on a number of dates in November Credit: PA

Workers at Southampton Airport are to stage a series of one-day strikes in a dispute over pay.

Members of Unite, including operations controllers, firefighters, technicians and engineering workers, will strike for 24 hours on November 5, 12 and 19.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “During the pandemic workers at Southampton Airport made huge sacrifices, accepting reductions in pay and conditions while working around the clock to keep the airport safe and running.

“Inflation is now at a 40-year high.

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"It’s completely wrong for the employers, AGS, to refuse these safety critical workers a decent pay increase after a three-year freeze.

“The workers have had enough.

"The airport bosses need to make a realistic pay offer to the staff if they are to avoid an escalation of the dispute.

"They should do that now.”

A spokesman for AGS Airports Ltd, which owns Southampton, said: “We value our people and are determined to find a resolution.

"In an effort to do so we are engaging the dispute resolution service ACAS with a view to finding a way forward that works for all parties.”