Airport workers to strike for two days over pay
LBAWorkers at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) are set to go on a two-day strike in a battle over pay for around 130 staff.
The Unite members - a mixture of air traffic control workers, customer experience staff, security staff and cleaners - are due to walk out between 16-18 October.
Their wages have fallen behind other airports such as Newcastle in equivalent roles, said the union, which claimed the action would temporarily close the airport.
A spokesperson for the airport said it had made "a fair and responsible" offer that was "significantly" above inflation and "anticipated running near-normal operations" if the strike went ahead.
An LBA spokesperson said: "We respect the right of employees to participate in lawful industrial action.
"However, we are disappointed by this and do not believe strike action is the right way to resolve the issues still under discussion."
The details of the pay offer were not confirmed by the airport or union.
The spokesperson 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."
A Unite spokesperson said the airport would have to shut down as "no flights would be able to fly in and out without air traffic control and nobody would be able to depart or arrive without passport control".
"There would also be nobody within the terminal to assist with passengers," they added.
The union is seeking parity for its members in air traffic control with colleagues at Newcastle Airport.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Our hardworking members should not be paid less than those doing the same jobs at other airports."
Industrial action is due to take place from 03:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for staff on hourly salaries, and from 06:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for air traffic controllers.
Last week the airport announced a record 4.45 million customers during the last financial year.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
