Further talks in airport pay dispute

Staff representatives will take part in the meeting

Talks at the Labour Relations Agency over a pay dispute involving security staff at Belfast International Airport continued in Belfast on Friday.

The talks have now been adjourned and both sides are expected to meet again early next week.

Representatives of the staff and the company which employs them, ICTS, also met in Belfast on Thursday.

The security staff held a four-hour strike on Wednesday morning to protest at what they say is low pay and poor conditions.

Gordon McNeill: Union representative

They plan to hold another strike on Tuesday if the issues are not resolved.

On Wednesday, union representative Gordon McNeill said the prospect of negotiations was a hopeful development.

"If the negotiations become unfruitful, then we will re-engage in the strike action.

"We would not have to give them (management) any advance notice because we have already informed them of the dates."

The series of stoppages is scheduled to last for a week.

The workers, who are employed by a firm sub-contracted to provide security at the airport, said they had no option but to take action.

Airport management said a number of contingency plans meant the public should not be inconvenienced.

The union has said the pay rate for security staff at the airport "was unacceptable".