Airport security screeners from across the Atlantic provinces have voted to strike.

Lawrence McKay, area coordinator of the United Steelworkers Union, says about 800 members voted almost unanimously to strike on Friday.

McKay says talks with Securitas Transport Aviation Security Ltd. broke down late last month.

He says if a deal isn’t worked out, passengers at 17 Atlantic Canadian airports would be grounded, but added that an essential services deal will be negotiated next week.

The union has a collective agreement that expires at the end of the month.

If no deal is reached, the workers will be eligible to go on strike Nov. 1.