BAGGAGE handlers and check-in staff have voted to stage two strikes at Stansted Airport over the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend.

About 500 GMB and Transport and General Worker's union members, employed by Swissport, rejected a pay offer by nine to one and voted three to one to take industrial action.

The two 15 hour strikes will take place on Saturday, August 26 and Monday, August 28.

The workers handle check in and baggage handling for about 80 per cent of Stansted's passengers.

GMB officer Gary Pearce said the action would severely disrupt the Ryanair, easyJet and charter flights out of Stansted over the four days during the Bank Holiday.

"Our members at Stansted deeply regret having to take this type of action but because of the company's action have been left with no alternative," he said.

"GMB members who provide essential services to airlines that are very profitable are facing huge increases in the cost of living and need a decent pay rise and those who are sick can not afford a drop in income."

Swissport communications manager Stephan Beerli said: "Swissport as a responsible organisation believes that the travelling public have faced enough disruption and suffered enough difficulty throughout the past week with the security threats."

But T&G regional industrial organiser Maureen Byrne said the company was trying to drive down costs by attacking the worker's pay.

"Member's co-operation in the last week has been tremendous and this is not a decision we take lightly.

"We ask passengers to think of the men and women that keep the airport running, whatever the pressures on them."

The first strike will be from 5am, August 26 to 8am August 27. The second will be from 5am August 28 to 8am August 29.

An overtime ban will last from August 25 until August 29.