CityJet, Air France and KLM ground staff at London City airport are gearing up to strike next month, claiming they have not had a pay rise in real terms since 2008.
The airlines’ staff, who are employed by agency Aviation Resources, provide check-in and dispatch for the three carriers at the airport. Their union, the GMB, is set to approve an official strike ballot on Tuesday when its central executive council meets. An earlier consultative ballot found 97% in favour of action.
The union claims CityJet, which issues contracts on behalf of the three airlines, has refused above inflation pay rises for three years and claims some staff have suffered bullying. It also says recent mothers have been denied flexible working conditions.
GMB organiser Stephanie Attwood said the problem lay with CityJet, but that “other airlines could get caught in the crossfire”.
CityJet was unavailable for comment.