Staff at British airports call for strikes

London -- Strikes over wage issues at British airports could disrupt travel for more than a million passengers, sources said Friday.

Baggage handlers and check-in staff have scheduled two 24-hour strikes at London's Gatwick Airport, one for Aug. 25 and another for Aug. 29, the Times of London reported.

The Unite union, representing Swissport workers at Gatwick, called a 3 percent pay offer "paltry," the Times reported.

Travelers on Virgin Atlantic, Monarch, Thomas Fly and several other airlines could be affected.

An additional 300 easyJet and Ryanair workers at Stansted airport will strike on the same days, the Times reported.

A GMB union spokesman said 90 percent of the workers voted to strike.

Airport workers in Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle are voting on the issue shortly, the Times reported.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.