The workers, who are members of the Unite union, will be balloted on strike action – which would coincide with the Easter holidays – beginning on Friday (17 February).

It comes after staff rejected a 10% pay offer, which – according to Unite – is "in effect a pay cut", with the real rate of inflation (RPI) currently standing at 13.4%.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Heathrow is guilty of gross hypocrisy, it is paying telephone number salaries to its chief executive and senior managers, but the workers who make the company a success are on poverty wages."

Graham added: "Unite never takes a backward step when fighting for its members’, jobs, pay and conditions and our members at Heathrow Airport will receive the union’s complete support."

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said: "If our members at HAL take strike action it will inevitably cause severe disruption throughout Heathrow with delays, disruption and cancellations of flights inevitable."

Workers set to be balloted on strike action include security guards, engineers and firefighters.