Bournemouth airport strikes called off after pay deal accepted

Strikes at Bournemouth airport have been called off because workers have accepted an improved pay offer, according to trade union Unite.

About 80 members of Unite, working across areas including baggage handling, check-in, flight dispatching and plane fuelling, had been due to walk out this month.

The action will no longer take place, the union said, as the affected staff have voted to accept a “better, two-year pay deal”.

In year one, the union said, the workers will receive a 4.5% salary uplift, plus a £1 per hour enhancement for workers classed as front of house staff, such as security and check in, for hours worked between 3am and 6am backdated to April 1.

In year two, they will receive a pay rise of inflation plus 0.5%, or 3.1%, based on whichever is the greater based on the inflation rate in January 2026. This will be paid on April 1, 2026.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a great win, which only came about as Unite members stuck together in their fight for better pay. It always pays to be a member of Unite.”

Unite regional officer Janet Wall said: “We are very pleased with this win, which has averted highly disruptive strike action. Workers at Bournemouth now are on the way to having the fair pay they deserve for their hard work.

“Any worker looking for improvements to their pay should join Unite and encourage colleagues to do the same. There is power in a union.”

Four days of action had been due to take place, but the strikes were previously called off to enable the workers to vote on the updated pay offer.