Unite has given BAA seven days’ notice of its intention to hold a strike ballot in a dispute over pay.

Unite represents 6,000 security staff, engineers, firefighters and support staff at the six airports which BAA operates, which includes Heathrow.

According to Unite, BAA workers had already accepted a pay freeze in 2009 and were this year offered only a 1% rise with a further 0.5% contingent upon acceptance of changes in the terms of sick leave.

Another issue in the dispute is that last year’s offer included a profit-related element which was missed by only 3% but which BAA has not paid.

BAA issued a statement saying: “We are disappointed that Unite is to ballot members across its UK airports for strike action.

“During recent discussions with Unite, we proposed a conditional 1.5% pay increase. We believe this to be a reasonable offer at a time when BAA and its airline customers are seeing a decline in passengers due to the impacts of recession and volcanic ash.

“We regret Unite’s decision, which will cause unnecessary concern for millions of our passengers and damage Britain’s reputation around the world.”

BAA is owned by Ferrovial and manages Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports.

The ballot will begin on 23 July and finish on 12 August.

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