The union have a callous and hypocritical disregard for the travelling public

David Teale, Manchester Airport managing director

Talks between the two sides over plans to cut security jobs have been held in recent days but have failed to settle the dispute.

Union members have staged a series of strikes in recent weeks over the job cuts, which they warn will threaten security.

Airport managers attacked the decision to strike on one of its busiest holiday weekends and claimed support for the strike was already "quickly dwindling".

They said the meeting was attended by just 120 TGWU members.

But Dave McCall, north-west regional secretary for the TGWU, told BBC News Online that support for the action remained strong.

"I have been out on the picket lines most times since the action started and support is as strong as it was when it began.

Normal service

"It is absolute nonsense to say there were only 120 members at the meeting on Thursday, there were at least 500."

Mr McCall added that union members did not want to cause disruption to passengers, but said it had become "unavoidable".

Managing director of the airport, David Teale said passengers will receive the same service as usual during Easter, which last year saw 164,000 passengers use the airport.

Maximum disruption

He said: "We have coped successfully with everything that the TGWU have tried to do, and we will once again keep the airport operational throughout this next stoppage.

"The union have a callous and hypocritical disregard for the travelling public.

"They say they don't want to disrupt the public but then they do everything they can to cause maximum disruption."

He said he was "disgusted" by the union's decision to hold the 96-hour walk-out as well as a 36-hour stoppage starting next Friday.