Passengers could be facing a summer of chaos at Gatwick airport after baggage handlers voted to strike over pay.

Members of the Transport and General Workers Union employed by services group Aviance - one of the airport's four biggest baggage handling firms - overwhelmingly backed walkouts in protest at a 2.5 per cent offer.

Workers at 17 airports across the country, including Gatwick, voted by 658 to 163 in favour of strikes.

Industrial action short of a strike was supported by 85 per cent of those who voted.

The strike action could coincide with the start of the school summer holidays in late July, bringing misery to thousands of families jetting off for their annual break.

But Andrew Dodgson of the TGWU at Gatwick, said leaders were meeting with managers tomorrow and hoped to avoid strike action.

He said flight numbers had increased at Gatwick in the past year, which had led to a significant increase in workload for staff.

Mr Dodgson said: "We want an offer certainly better than 2.5 per cent, bearing in mind the increase in workload that they've coped with in this growing market.

"We don't want to take strike action, we want a fair settlement but our members will take action.

"It's possible that action could start in the next two or three weeks but we will have to wait until after Wednesday's meeting."

An Aviance spokesman confirmed talks will be held between the union and the company tomorrow to try to avert a strike. TGWU national officer Brendan Gold said: "This is a resounding vote by our members which sends a clear signal to Aviance that they must improve on the offer.

"The talks this Wednesday will now take on an added significance."

Aviance also operates at Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Jersey, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester, Stansted, Southampton and Teesside airports.

The company is owned by the Go-Ahead group and employs more than 4,300 workers in aviation across the UK.

The TGWU said the company's business was growing, especially at Heathrow airport, while Go-Ahead's profits allowed for a bigger pay rise.

Members of the GMB union have also been balloted for industrial action over the same dispute.

About 1,000 members of the GMB took part with 80 per cent backing the call for industrial action.

Aviance ground crew at Gatwick threatened to walk out over "bullying" management tactics last year but the unions stepped in and a strike was averted.

A hotline was launched on Friday to help the growing number of workers at Gatwick who complain of being bullied. The union, Amicus, said the phone service would give advice to cabin crew, engineers and ground staff.

Union officials said they were receiving more calls from workers seeking help to deal with bullying by managers, passengers and even colleagues.

Tuesday July 06, 2004