AIR PASSENGERS could face bank holiday chaos on Monday after bosses snubbed negotiation talks aiming to avoid a strike of security scanners.

Workers at Stansted employed by outsourcing giant Mitie were left fuming after David Cameron handed a seat in the House of Lords to CEO Ruby McGregor-Smith — who has refused them a 3 per cent pay rise in spite of bumper profits.

The chief executive, whose annual pay has been as much as £1.1 million in recent years, has been a prominent cheerleader for Conservative economic policies — signing letters backing the cuts in 2010 and earlier this year and serving as a “business ambassador” for the PM.

In 2012 she was handed her first gong — a CBE — for “services to business and promoting diversity” and now the government claims she deserves a peerage for her work chairing the Women’s Business Council.

The newly ennobled boss took to Twitter to thank friends and colleagues for “all their kind messages.”

Andy Thompson, the company’s technical facilities supremo in the north of England was one of the first to dish out praise, tweeting: “The Mitie family are all very proud of you.” 

But her business acumen was not sufficient to see off a crisis in her own back yard. GMB, which organises the security gate staff, said Mitie had refused to take part in talks at conciliation service Acas.

GMB organiser Gary Pearce blasted Ms McGregor-Smith for being “too busy getting close to the Tory Party to tell her managers to get around the table.”

He said the arrogance of bosses was to blame for the “avoidable” strike going ahead.

Workers rejected a 1.5 per cent pay rise after Mitie recorded a 7 per cent dividend rise and a 13.5 per cent increase in profits after tax.

The average private-sector pay rise at the time was 2.7 per cent. GMB said a 3 per cent pay rise would only cost the company an additional £24,000.

“A pay rise of this level for GMB members who protect the security of thousands of air travellers is clearly very responsible and the company can afford it,” Mr Pearce said.

“GMB members who through their hard work and expertise have created the welcome increase in Mitie’s profits should share in that success.”

It is not the first time Mitie has landed itself in hot water over pay. Earlier this year its care subsidiary MiHomecare was accused of failing to pay workers the minimum wage.

Stansted Airport and Mitie had not responded to requests for comment by the time the Star went to press last night.

Mitie was awarded the Stansted contract by the Airline Operations Committee, an association of all the carriers which operate from the airport.