The prospect of summer check in disruption to easyJet flights at Stansted heightened yesterday as workers voted to strike.
Passenger service agents employed by Stobart Aviation Services on an easyJet contract at the airport voted to take action.
The dispute involves 43 Unite union members working as passenger service agents is over pay and union recognition. The turnout in the industrial action ballot was 88.4%.
The result raises the prospect of strike action and delays for easyJet passengers at Stansted this summer if a breakthrough in talks between Unite and Stobart Aviation Services can’t be found when the two sides meet today (Thursday), the union warned.
Unite regional officer Mark Barter said: “This emphatic vote in favour of strike action should leave Stobart Aviation Services in no doubt of the depth of anger felt by our members.
“We hope that Stobart Aviation Services will do the right thing and avoid the possibility of strike action by engaging meaningfully with Unite to reach a deal on pay and trade union recognition.”
Staff were transferred across from Menzies to Stobart a year ago.
Stobart Aviation Services previously said it was engaging with Unite and “aims to have a constructive dialogue”.
The company is a division of Stobart Group, which owns Southend airport and is part of the Connect Airways consortium alongside Virgin Atlantic in the process of taking over Flybe.
More: Union warns of ‘check-in chaos’ for easyJet passengers at Stansted
