PRESTWICK AIRPORT workers have “overwhelmingly” backed strike action in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Unite union working at the airport voted 78 per cent in favour of strike action on an 84 per cent turnout.

The strike action will start on Friday, August 5 and will continue for four weeks on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

The union says airport management are refusing to pay shift allowances and are unwilling to pay the real living wage rate of £9.90 an hour to new starters.

Unite represents more than 80 workers at the airport including airport security, firefighters, airfield operators, ground crew, ground handling, cargo, customer services, and cleaners.

The union says the last offer on the table for the workforce at Prestwick was between 4 and 6.5 percent, but the UK Government announced last week that inflation had hit a 40-year high of 11.7 per cent.

Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said: “Prestwick Airport management have one last chance before their rock bottom pay offer results in strike action.

A spokesperson for the airport said: “We are extremely disappointed that Unite is continuing to pursue its threat of strike action - especially on the basis of just a small number of votes.

“We urge Unite to reconsider their position, and work with us to realise our ambitions.”

The airport was taken into public ownership in November 2013 after being purchased for £1.