WORKERS at the Civil Aviation authority (CAA) are to take industrial action for the first time in 40 years in a dispute over pay, the Prospect union announced today.

The union warned that air passengers will be affected after members begin working to rule and an overtime ban on January 20.

Having entered negotiations, the CAA has now imposed a 3-4 per cent pay offer on staff which fails to keep pace with the industry and the Civil Service, said Prospect.

Prospect deputy general secretary Rachel Curley said: “Our members don’t want to take industrial action but they have been left with no choice after unacceptable tactics from the employer.

“There is still time to avoid industrial action which will be damaging for the industry.

“The CAA needs to restart good-faith negotiations and come up with a fair and reasonable offer that our members can accept.”

A spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “We continue to engage with our union colleagues and after prolonged discussions, it is disappointing that Prospect members have voted to take industrial action. Prospect members make up around one in five of our employees and we do not anticipate any disruption to the aviation sector, or any impact on our regulatory oversight activities or other safety critical work, as a result of this action.”