Staff employed by Menzies at Luton Airport have secured a pay increase of almost nine per cent after successful negotiations prevented industrial action and delivered significant improvements for the workforce.

The deal means a typical baggage handlers’ annual pay will increase by around £1,670 by January 2019.

Baggage handlers, check-in staff, passenger service assistants and security staff at Luton airport overwhelmingly voted to accept the pay offer worth 8.75 per cent.

Workers will receive an additional £1 an hour for working unsociable hours.

The union and management have also agreed to make significant improvements to working conditions at Luton which had been a long running concern for the workforce at the airport.

The agreement was struck after a series of talks with Menzies Aviation following a vote by the workers in favour of strike action.

Unite regional officer, Jeff Hodge, said: “The workforce took a brave stand in order to improve their working conditions and pay.

“By standing together they achieved just that.

“Not only did they secure a deserved inflation beating pay increase of almost nine per cent, management are now working with the union to make significant improvements to working conditions.”

The workforce will receive a five per cent increase backdated to October 2017 followed by 3.75 per cent or the RPI (whichever is higher) from January 2019.

Workers will also get an additional £1 per hour for an unsociable hours premium for hours worked from 00:00 am to 04:59 am effective May 2019.