The union representing 250 security guards at Vancouver International Airport is expected to serve 72-hour strike notice later this week and could be off the job by next Tuesday.

They work for Securiguard, which has the contract for all security at the airport except for pre-boarding screening.

Private security guards at Vancouver International Airport are threatening strike action next week.
(CBC file)

However, the screeners are members of the same local of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and might not cross the picket lines.

The union says could mean a complete shutdown of the airport.

But airport vice-president Paul Levy maintains the airport has contingency plans and will continue to operate safely if the guards go on strike.

"There have certainly been labour disputes that have happened in the past and the airport continued to operate," he said. "And I'm confident that if it does reach that [point] — which we're hopeful that it doesn't, but if it does — we will continue to operate."

The union workers voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action to back their contract demands, which focus on better working conditions.

They are trying to get their first collective agreement after becoming unionized earlier this year.