BAA & Virgin Strike

[Portugal1000]

We leave on Saturday and are due to return on 28th Dec. Just been reading about the BAA strike which could start and now the possibility of a Virgin Strike. Now I would be quite happy to have my holiday extended, as long as it wasn't a case of being stuck at the airport. Has anyone ever experience a strike like this before, if so were you able to just go back to a hotel until everything calmed down. I really don't don't what would happen if say Gatwick was closed.
Thanks