iStockHundreds of Glasgow Airport workers are preparing to strike this summer as ongoing pay rows escalate.
Unite confirmed that around 450 workers from companies Glasgow Airport Ltd, ICTS Central Search, and Swissport are on course for industrial action amid unresolved disputes with three companies based at Glasgow airport.
Chiefs said 98.7% of Unite members employed by Glasgow Airport Limited have backed taking industrial action to secure a better pay offer. Around 100 workers employed by the company have recently rejected a basic 4% pay offer.
The Glasgow Airport Limited workers include airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers and managers. Glasgow Airport Limited made £40.65m in its latest recorded accounts.
A further 250 ICTS central search workers remain in a live dispute over understaffing, working conditions and pay. The workers deal with passengers directly in the security search area and process them for flights.
Unite members are currently being balloted on a pay offer on basic pay, shift allowances and overtime rates. ICTS (UK) Limited made £4.4m in its latest accounts.
Over 100 Swissport workers are still in dispute over working rotas and work-life balance, along with health and safety concerns. Swissport is the country’s largest ground handler. Workers provide ground handling services to many major airlines, including ticketing and baggage handling.
STV NewsUnite say workers report struggling with “chronic fatigue and understaffing” and that Swissport is “demanding that workers at extremely short notice have to work shifts, which is directly impacting on their personal lives”.
A consultative ballot on a new offer made by Swissport to address these outstanding issues has been put to the workforce. The ballot concludes on July 14.
If this offer is rejected, Unite chiefs said they will move to open a full industrial action ballot.
Swissport made £17.6m in its latest recorded profits.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Employers at Glasgow Airport will not get away with underpaying or mistreating Unite’s members. Hundreds of workers are involved in disputes at the airport. Summer strike action which would ground planes and passengers remains on the cards.
“These highly profitable companies can easily afford to put the minds of the travelling public at rest by making fair offers to workers.”
Meanwhile, Unite can confirm that a dispute involving 300 Menzies Aviation workers has now been resolved. The union successfully negotiated a deal which establishes a 4% minimum increase for new starters, and up to 10% for workers depending on grades. The Menzies workers include dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers.
STV NewsSome 50 Falck firefighters who perform fire safety functions at the airport have also accepted a basic wage increase of 4.5% following negotiations held by Unite and the company, which also brings this pay dispute to a close.
Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, said: “Strike action has moved a step closer after our Glasgow Airport Limited members emphatically backed industrial action. We believe the airport’s new management is attempting to put us on a collision course which would bring out hundreds of workers on strike during the peak summer holiday season.
“Meanwhile, Unite has successfully delivered significant pay deals for our members at Menzies Aviation and Falck. These deals build on the recent successes made with other companies at the airport. It clearly demonstrates that pay disputes can be resolved through negotiation and without the need for industrial action if companies are willing to work with Unite.”
Unite recently announced wage wins for 100 North Air workers across Scottish airports, and over 140 workers based at Glasgow airport employed by ABM and OCS.
A spokesperson for Swissport said: “Our priority is the safety and wellbeing and fair treatment of our workforce, alongside maintaining high standards of service for our customers and we remain committed to working constructively with Unite to find a fair and sustainable resolution.”
A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said: “We are reviewing the ballot results and remain open to finding a sensible resolution.”
ICTS has been contacted for comment.
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