Planned strike at Heathrow Airport suspended as union votes

LONDON (AP) — Officials at London's Heathrow Airport say a planned strike has been suspended after the union representing security guards, firefighters and other workers gave its members time to consider the company's offer.

Unite union members at Europe's busiest airport planned to strike Aug. 23-24 in an ongoing pay dispute. The airport said Wednesday the new offer gives a total pay rise of 7.8% over two years.

Heathrow says the raise is higher than any other UK airport and that it "has a duty to ensure the business is sustainable —particularly against the backdrop of increasing economic uncertainty facing the UK in the immediate future."

The Unite union has confirmed a ballot is underway on the revised pay offer for 4,000 security, airside operations and passenger services staff. It closes Sept. 2.