British Airways workers at London’s Heathrow Airport have voted to strike over pay as surging inflation erodes wages and sparks growing industrial unrest.
Members of the GMB and Unite trade unions have overwhelmingly backed the action, they said in separate statements, warning of a “summer of strikes” as the cost-of-living crisis worsens.
The staff, in customer-facing roles like check-in, voted by more than 90% in favour.
The unions did not give strike dates but noted they were likely to be held over the peak summer holiday period, threatening more chaos with airports already facing chronic staff shortages.
The grim news comes as UK rail workers stage the second of three days of strike action this week billed as the biggest in decades.
Workers are angry that pay has failed to keep pace with rocketing inflation, which struck a 40-year pinnacle at 9.1% in May and is widely forecast to hit double figures.
“With grim predictability, holidaymakers face massive disruption thanks to the pig-headedness of British Airways,” said GMB national officer Nadine Houghton.
“BA have tried to offer our members crumbs from the table … but this doesn’t cut the mustard.”
British Airways said it was “extremely disappointed” with the strike news, adding it had made a one-off 10% pay award which was accepted by the majority of other staff.
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