Workers at contractor Swissport say changes in working conditions have left them £1,000 a year worse off
Holidaymakers travelling through Stansted airport during Easter weekend face disruption after baggage handlers voted to strike.
Workers from the GMB union are set to take industrial action, claiming new contracts and shift patterns are docking their pay by £1,000.
The union said airport contractor Swissport's moves to cut pay were aggressive and that the company would be to blame if holidays were disrupted.
Swissport provides handling services to Ryanair, Monarch and others, although passengers using many other airlines, including EasyJet, would be unaffected.
GMB has asked the company to reconsider the cuts, but warns it will be serving the legally required seven days' notice to strike soon.
GMB organiser Gary Pearce said: "GMB members have voted overwhelmingly for strike action and for action short of a strike. GMB members consider that Swissport is attempting to make savings at their expense and they are not willing to agree to this.
"Unless there are urgent talks and a settlement this vote for action this will result in disruption over the Easter bank holiday weekend."
Stansted airport said it was waiting for official notification of the dispute from Swissport. However, a source said the airport did not expect widespread disruption, as the handler was only one of a number of contractors used by the airlines.
Stephen McNamara, communications director at Ryanair, said: "In the unlikely event of strike action by airport baggage handlers Ryanair will operate its flights with carry-on baggage only, thereby ensuring that Ryanair passengers are not held to ransom by greedy unions."
The strike would involve 150 GMB workers on one of the busiest weekends of the year for Britain's fourth biggest airport.