Bournemouth Airport staff to stage four days of strikes after pay offer rejected

Bournemouth Airport will be affected by four days of industrial action this autumn after members of Unite the Union rejected a revised pay offer, the union and airport said on Wednesday.

Around 80 workers who are Unite members will strike on September 30, October 1, October 16 and October 17, Unite said. The workers are drawn from multiple teams at the south coast airport, including baggage handling, check-in, flight dispatch and aircraft fuelling. Bournemouth Airport put the number of strikers at about 70, saying roughly 15 percent of its 450-strong workforce would be involved.

The planned action follows an earlier proposal to suspend strikes while staff were balloted on a new deal; that offer was turned down by Unite members, prompting the new dates. Unite regional officer Janet Wall said the dispute had arisen from "years of low pay" and that offers so far "don't go far enough to address years of low pay and the fact that workers are struggling financially." She warned that routes to and from the airport would be "severely impacted" because the strikers work across several services.

Bournemouth Airport, which serves more than 950,000 passengers a year and flies to 34 destinations in Europe and North Africa, said it had "negotiated extensively and in good faith with Unite and [had] met all their previous demands in full." The airport said it had made "significantly improved pay offers to staff in line with requests, which Unite recommended to their members for approval," and expressed disappointment that industrial action had been threatened.

The airport said it would continue to seek an agreement with Unite while preparing contingency plans to minimise disruption and to "allow the airport to operate as normal on these dates." It advised passengers to check with their airline for the latest information on affected flights.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said it was "completely unacceptable that people working for a profitable employer are struggling to afford the basics," and said the union would give members "the full backing of the union during this industrial action." The union noted that workers who staff the airport fire service, who are covered by a separate bargaining agreement, have accepted a new pay deal and will not take part in the strikes.

The dispute will affect functions that are integral to daily operations at the airport, including check-in and baggage handling, and may lead airlines to alter schedules or cancel services on the strike days. The airport is used by several carriers including TUI and Ryanair.

Both sides indicated a willingness to continue talks. The union urged the airport to return with an improved offer to avert the strikes, while the airport said it remained committed to seeking a negotiated outcome.

Passengers due to travel via Bournemouth Airport on the announced dates should check with their airline for updates and contact their carrier or travel provider about rebooking or compensation policies if flights are disrupted.