Birmingham Airport facing ‘serious security delays’ during strikes

Security delays could hit holiday makers travelling from Birmingham Airport this month as around 100 security officers and terminal technicians will begin continuous strike action from July 18.

The strikes are set to impact Birmingham Airport’s security and terminal maintenance operations and could lead to delays for carriers such as TUI, EasyJet, Wizz, Ryanair, Lufthansa and Emirates.

Unite the union said members are staging all-out continuous strike action over what it claims to be “two years of substantial pay cuts”.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Birmingham Airport has returned to profitability but expects its low paid workers to swallow a real terms pay cut after successive attacks on their wages and terms and conditions. This is completely unacceptable at a time of rising living costs. Unite’s laser-like focus on jobs, pay and conditions means these workers will receive the full unflinching support of their union as they strike for a fair pay rise.”

A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport said: “We note the union, representing a minority of our workforce, is threatening strike action from July 18 – despite our current pay offer being well above the current UK average.

“The union’s call for strike action is surprising as it breaches the terms of the bargaining agreement, which lays out the steps for resolving such disputes. We call on the union to honour the terms of the existing bargaining agreement.

“However, if strike action does take place, we are confident the impact will be limited, and we do not anticipate any cancellations. Our advice to customers remains to arrive at the airport in line with guidance from their airline.”