Despite OCS being accredited by the Living Wage Foundation, the company does not extend the real living wage to many of its outsourced workers. As a result, BA’s contracted cleaners earn just £11.44 per hour – the legal minimum wage.

According to the trade union, the low pay has forced some workers, who wear BA-branded uniforms, to rely on food banks and struggle with rent.

OCS, which reported £28.3 million in operating profits in 2023, pays its directly employed staff up to £13.85 an hour in London, but does not apply this rate to external contracts.

Meanwhile, BA’s parent company, IAG, made £1.7 billion in profits during the peak summer season last year.

The strike is set to take place from 25 to 28 February, with further industrial action planned if pay demands are not met.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: “It is rank hypocrisy for OCS to boast about being a real living wage employer when its BA staff are on poverty wages and having to use foodbanks. The Living Wage Foundation should not be allowing race-to-the-bottom outsourcers like OCS to take cover under its good name.

“Both OCS and BA are hugely profitable and can well afford to pay these workers fairly and decently. Unite will support them in their strike action until that happens.”

Unite regional officer Martin West, said: “There is still time to avoid industrial action but that will require OCS to put forward a fair pay offer. This dispute will continue to escalate and does reflect well on either OCS or BA – it is in both companies’ interests to resolve it.”