Holiday chaos could hit Stansted Airport at the start of the summer rush after a strike threat by staff.

Industrial action could paralyse part of the airport's operation from July, if workers ballot for strike action.

Check-in staff, dispatch workers who check luggage on to planes and baggage handler controllers who are members of the General Municipal and Boilermakers Union have already rejected a 2.4 per cent pay offer by a 90 per cent vote.

Now the 230 workers - who help to ensure that travellers and baggage are put on flights - are currently voting on whether to take industrial action to highlight their claim.

Ed Blissett, London regional industrial officer for the union, said the pay offer by airport handling company Servisair was "derisory".

"It's extremely low - a number of our members are on £9,000 a year which is poor for such a responsible job.

"We are looking for a substantial increase to try and get them out of poverty pay. There is no doubt about the feeling of our members. They are very angry," he added.

Mr Blissett said if strike action went ahead Stansted's low cost carriers, Go and Ryanair, would be affected. And he said the action would also have a major impact on Stansted.

"But it will affect all the airport. If my members come out, the airport won't work," he added.

In July hundreds of thousands of people are expected to head for the sun. The last Bank Holiday alone saw more 90,000 people jet out from the airport.

The postal ballot is being handled by the Electoral Reform Society and the result is expected within the next three weeks.

Servisair was due to release a statement about the strike threat yesterday.

A Stansted spokeswoman said the airport would not comment until the outcome of the ballot was known.

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