AGENCY cleaners fighting for the living wage at Luton Airport have announced a new week-long strike for February.

The Unite staff at Luton Airport, who work for the employment agency Sasse, will walk out from February 15-22.

However the union hopes an agreement can still be reached in talks with the conciliation service Acas which begin today.

Unite argues that the workers, who are currently paid the minimum wage of £7.83, are struggling to make ends meet despite working long hours or having second jobs.

Sasse, which gained the contract at Luton Airport in April last year, has offered a three-year pay deal to increase workers’ pay.

Yet Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins, who is supporting the strikers, argued that even by 2021 this rise would still mean workers being paid below the real living wage of £9.

“I fully support the low paid cleaners at Luton Airport in their campaign for pay justice,” he said.

Mr Hopkins also called on Sasse to settle the dispute and recognise the issues with low pay for workers.

This latest dispute is the third time that the cleaners have taken industrial action, with a strike over the Christmas period causing particular disruption.

Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said: “Cleaners at Luton Airport can’t make ends meet on the minimum wage and it’s time their contribution to the airport was recognised with a wage they can live on.”

Sasse had not responded to requests for comment at the time of going to press.