Leeds Bradford Airport passengers told what to expect during 51-hour strike

Almost 130 Unite workers are due to walk out over pay

Bosses at Leeds Bradford Airport have said they expect "near-normal" operations despite strike action.

Almost 130 workers at Leeds Bradford Airport are due to walk out later this month in a dispute over pay. These workers are members of the Unite union and they include air traffic control staff, customer experience teams, security workers and cleaners.

The union said their workers had just come out of a four-year pay deal and some roles are now paid less than equivalent jobs at other airports. They will now be going on strike from 3am on Friday, October 16 until 6am on Sunday, October 18.

Leeds Bradford Airport said it "respects" the rights of employees to go on strike, but said the airport was "disappointed by this" and did not "believe strike action is the right way to resolve the issues still under discussion".

It said the offer workers had voted against was "fair and responsible", adding that it was "significantly above inflation" and reflected economic conditions and the need for the business to remain sustainable.

The airport said: "Our priority now is to minimise disruption for customers, many of whom have worked hard and saved for important holidays, family visits and business travel. At this stage we anticipate running near-normal operations during the period.

"Leeds Bradford Airport plays a vital role in connecting Yorkshire to the world. Industrial action has the potential to cause inconvenience for thousands of customers and local businesses who rely on those connections.

"We remain committed to constructive dialogue with Unite and would welcome continued discussions aimed at reaching a resolution."

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham previously said the airport was "very profitable" and could "more than afford to come back to the table with an offer that doesn't fall short of our members' expectations".

The airport argued profits were reinvested back into the site and the funds support facility, infrastructure, operations, and customer experience improvements.

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