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Manchester Airport could face strike action from staff embroiled in a dispute over pay, unless a deal can be reached and agreed with a union, the Manchester Evening News can reveal. It is understood any ballot would involve hundreds of workers employed by Manchester Airports Group (MAG). The union has now formally registered a trade dispute with the airport, the M.E.N. understands. In a statement on Wednesday (November 5), Unite said its members at the airport were 'rapidly preparing for industrial action for the first time in decades'. The airport, however, said it was 'committed to an open dialogue' with its workforce and their unions - and to 'ongoing discussions' with them in the coming days. It is understood roles covered at the airport include bus drivers, security staff, meet and greet personnel and traffic marshals, firefighters, airfield operations, engineering and car park staff, as well as those employed by MAG fulfilling other roles there. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE A consultative ballot ended on Monday, the results of which delivered strong support for industrial action after Unite members rejected a pay offer put on the table for 2025/26, the M.E.N. understands. The exact numbers of members who voted, however, haven't been revealed. It means an official ballot for industrial action could now follow, unless agreement can be reached. No timescales have been revealed. The M.E.N. also understands the union and its members are also unhappy with issues over an agreement regarding job security and employment protection. It's understood the pay offer was multifaceted and dependent on employment grading. The airport said its pay deal offer was 'above CPI inflation' and over two years, together with other benefits. Manchester Airports Group is the UK's largest airports group and collectively owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports. One airport worker employed by MAG, speaking anonymously, claimed employees at Stansted had been offered a better deal with a higher annual pay increase and one-off payments. The member of staff said: "The airport has trouble on its hands. It is every department of the airport with workers employed by MAG. Workers at every department I have spoken to have said they have rejected the offer." MAG, however, said its airports were treated individually and each have their own pay agreements dependent on a range of factors, saying any comparison was 'unhelpful'. It's understood Unite is now checking membership details before the first legal steps to launch a ballot for industrial action begin. Any intention to ballot members for action would have to be communicated to MAG separately. The news follows bus strikes in Greater Manchester and ongoing industrial action being taken by union members working for Transport for Greater Manchester, in what are, and were, entirely separate disputes. A Unite spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News : "Manchester Airport has had every opportunity to make a fair offer to its dedicated workforce, but despite its high level of profits it has refused to do so. Unite is calling for adequate job protection and technology agreements as well as a fair pay offer for the airport's loyal and dedicated employees. "MAG's refusal to offer an adequate job security/job protection agreement to its employees at Manchester Airport is in stark contrast to colleagues at MAG's Stansted Airport, who are protected under a long-established job security agreement. "Our members have had enough and are now rapidly preparing for industrial action for the first time in decades. The employer needs to understand the level of anger among its workers and return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved and fair offer including an appropriate and adequate employment protection agreement." A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: "Manchester Airport values all its colleagues and recognises the amazing work they do every day to ensure our 31 million passengers each year are able to travel to the places they want to go. "That is why we have offered them a pay deal that is above CPI inflation and gives them the security of knowing what they will earn - and how it will increase - over the next two years, among other benefits. We are aware that some colleagues who are members of the Unite and Unison unions and took part in their recent ballot on this issue rejected that deal. "We are committed to an open dialogue with all colleagues and to ongoing discussions with our recognised trade unions in the coming days. All MAG airports have their own pay agreements. They are negotiated over different periods and reflect a wide range of locally relevant factors. Therefore, comparisons between different airport pay deals are unhelpful."
