PASSENGERS using Southampton Airport over the coming weeks will be hit by a series of one-day strikes by firefighters and security staff.

The walk-out, which involves six other UK airports, will come on November 28, December 2, 10, 15 and 23 and January 2.

Union leaders claimed the airports would not be able to operate on the strike dates but added they still hoped it could be averted. Thousands of workers employed by the British Airports Authority (BAA) voted in favour last week of industrial action to protest against a pay offer.

Employers claimed it was worth 6.3 per cent over two years.

Workers involved in the row include firefighters, security guards and support staff at Southampton and six other airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Tim Lyle, national secretary for aviation at the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), said BAA could afford to increase its offer after making big profits this year.

He added workers felt frustrated at the offer, given their increased workloads and responsibilities following the September 11 outrage.

BAA bosses expressed their disappointment at the strike called by the TGWU. Group services director Tony Ward said: "Our terms of employment are highly competitive and our pay offer is well above the rate of inflation.

"It is better than an offer the union representatives originally recommended to their members.

"In the interests of maintaining the public service our airports provide, we will be pressing for the involvement of ACAS to bring this matter to an early conclusion.

"We will now develop specific contingency plans and will keep national government fully informed."

Passengers could also face further delays with news that controllers at the Air Traffic Control Centre in Swanwick could ballot to hold a 15-minute protest strike.

It follows huge bonuses paid to two National Air Traffic Services executives.