Strikes at Glasgow Airport are “inevitable” this summer unless improved pay offers are made a trade union has said.

Unite union members are to begin voting on strike action over pay after rejecting proposals.

More than 400 workers in various roles have knocked back offers, which they have branded “poverty pay”.

The ballot comes after the government has been urged to step in to help the airport as it struggles to increase passenger numbers after covid.

The staff including roles in security, cleaning, fire safety and engineers are employed by several companies at the airport including Glasgow Airport Ltd.

The prospect of disruption to flights is high with the union telling bosses: “If they don’t offer a decent wage rise then strikes are inevitable”.

Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, said: “If these companies don’t come back with fair and decent offers then a summer of travel chaos is on the horizon. 

“It will be on the heads of these companies for any disruption caused to passengers because we are giving them every opportunity to resolve this through negotiation.”

The pay offers range from an increase to £10.82 an hour for cleaners to £12.61 for some security staff.

Around 50 Falck firefighters who perform fire safety functions at the airport have also rejected a basic 5 per cent pay offer by 98 per cent.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Unite has worked extremely hard over a number of years to ensure pay levels at Glasgow Airport kept up with the cost of living.

“What is now on offer, across the board, is real terms pay cuts and poverty pay. We will now ballot our members, at these five companies based at Glasgow Airport, because our members deserve better.

“It’s important to remember that it was Unite members who kept the airport clean, safe and operation throughout the pandemic. They did all this while enduring cuts to pay and conditions.

“It’s time for these companies to reward this loyalty by paying up.”

Glasgow Airport has been contacted for comment.