London airports to be hit by strikes

Employees at Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport have announced they would take part in industrial action this bank holiday weekend, it has been reported.

Baggage handlers and check-in staff at the London airports will stage two 24-hour walkouts, on August 25th and again on August 29th in a move which could disrupt the travel plans of 1.3 million potential holidaymakers.

Passengers are being warned that their flights could be cancelled or face lengthy delays because a number of airlines will be halting its operations.

The employees at London's second and third busiest airports are taking industrial action after rejecting a three per cent pay offer from airport bosses.

Steve Turner, national officer of employee trade union Unite, said: "Our members have had enough; the liberalisation of ground handling services across UK airports has resulted in a race to the bottom which must and will stop. We will not stand back and allow labour costs to determine whether contracts are won or lost."

Workers at Manchester Airport, Newcastle Airport and Birmingham Airport are all expected to vote on strike action this week.