Strike 'did not hit passengers'

The strike by 33 workers is due to end at 0300 BST on Tuesday

Managers have said a strike by staff who scan luggage for explosives and illegal substances at Stansted Airport in Essex failed to disrupt passengers.

The 33 members of the GMB Union want a pay rise of about 5% while employer Airfield Services has offered 1.5%.

Managers were brought in to scan luggage during the one-day dispute but the union claimed they were catering staff breaching safety rules.

The company said it was "disappointed" over the action.

Union representatives said they would complain to airport owner BAA and to the transport minister about the use of catering staff to replace strikers.

Second strike plan

The GMB union insisted some passengers would be affected arriving at their destination to find luggage never made it on to the plane.

The union said it would hold a second 24-hour stoppage this Thursday unless there were further negotiations.

"The company has brought in catering workers to operate security scanners, which is a clear breach of security standards laid down for this airport," said GMB general secretary Paul Kenny.

"We will be raising the issue with the Transport Secretary and BAA to ask when this company was given the right to lower security standards because of a trade dispute."

The GMB said strikers had mounted a picket line on a day when about 40,000 passengers were flying out of Stansted, which is near Chelmsford, Essex.