Hundreds of Glasgow and Aberdeen airport workers balloted for summer holiday strike action

Hundreds of workers at two Scottish airports are set to be balloted on summer holiday strike action in a dispute over pay.

It comes after talks with ICTS Central Search were cancelled at the last minute on Friday leading to Unite the Union to call on the airports’ owner – AGS – to intervene in an escalating pay dispute.

The union says staff at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports are “routinely” going without breaks they are legally entitled to due to staffing issues.

Workers at both airports have already rejected a pay increase of 4% and a £500 one-off payment from the company.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed that 300 ICTS central search members based at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports are being balloted for strike action.

The ballots at both airports will open on Monday, June 17, and will close on Monday, July 1 and If successful, strike action could start mid-July – at the “peak” of the summer holidays.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite has repeatedly warned ICTS that our members at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports are on the verge of taking strike action due to the greed of an extremely profitable company.

“Our members have been left with no option but to fight for a fair pay offer because the company is refusing to give them one.”

“Unite will back our ICTS members every step of the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

Pat McIlvogue, Unite’s lead industrial officer for the aviation sector in Scotland, said: “ICTS cancelled talks at the last minute with Unite which shows how much it cares about their workforce and the travelling public.

“Unite is now calling on AGS which owns and operates both Aberdeen and Glasgow airports to intervene because shockingly ICTS can’t even be bothered to meet us.

“Unite has made it clear that there should be a pay offer on the table which reflects the importance of our members’ jobs, and we believe AGS recognise this fact even if ICTS don’t. Without these workers the airports simply can’t operate.

“ICTS are coining it in on the back of our members’ hard work but it is choosing to undervalue our members, and put at risk the holidays of the travelling public during the summer.”

ICTS and AGS have been contacted for comment.