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.

“The workers are particularly incensed as the pay offer is less than their counterparts at Bristol and Gatwick airports received despite DHL Aviation reporting gross profits of £66 million last year,” a Unite spokesman said.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “DHL Aviation is a multimillion-pound company, that can fully afford to make a vastly improved offer to our members.”

A spokeswoman for DHL Aviation UK said: "We are disappointed that Unite and its members have voted in favour of industrial action at our East Midlands Airport operation. This decision has been made by a small proportion of employees working for DHL Aviation UK and talks continue to resolve this situation. Contingency planning is in place to ensure service is maintained for our customers.”