DHL Aviation workers at East Midlands Airport will strike after rejecting a “kick in the teeth” 9.8 per cent pay offer, Unite announced today.

Industrial action was called after the workers rejected the offer which the union said was in effect a real-terms pay cut as the RPI rate of inflation stood at 11.3 per cent when the increase was due last April.

Unite regional officer Melanie Todner warned the action by 180 workers paid as little as £10.96 an hour “will inevitably cause severe disruption” from February 9 until February 19.