Gatwick Airport is facing the threat of strike action by drivers of its airside buses.
Unite the union says a strike could begin by the end of February if its members vote to go ahead.
Drivers have begun voting for strike action this week after their employer, Omni Serve, offered a zero per cent pay increase.
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The ballot will close on February 6.
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Unite said workers have not received a pay increase for over three years.
It said after long negotiations, an offer was finally made just before Christmas of a zero per cent pay rise for 2017 and a below inflation increase of 2 per cent for 2018.
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Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: "Managers at Omni Serve are presiding over a pay shambles. Workers are at the end of their tethers and have seen their wages cut in real terms year on year.
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"Our members provide a key role at Gatwick airport and if they take strike action passengers face severe delays and flights could be cancelled.
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"Since Unite issued the notice to ballot, workers have been flocking to join the union. Omni Serve has totally misunderstood workers’ anger over the way they are being treated.
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"If Omni Serve seriously wants to avoid customer misery the company needs to return to the negotiating table and make a reasonable pay offer to our members."
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Last year, strike action was narrowly averted on a separate Omni Serve contract at Gatwick involving baggage operators for Norwegian.
Dubbed ‘bucks not burgers’ after staff were invited to a company barbecue, the row was settled after Omni Serve made a last-minute pay offer.
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