Menzies Aviation workers at Edinburgh airport secure 7.4 per cent wage deal

Unite clocks up another pay win in ‘Runway to Success’ for airport workers

Ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh airport have accepted a new one-year pay  which will boost pay packages by 7.4 per cent.

Around 250 workers including dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers will now benefit from the Menzies Aviation pay offer, which increases basic pay by 6.4 per cent.

Other enhancements to the pay package mean that its total worth to Menzies Aviation workers at Edinburgh airport is 7.4 per cent.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite delivers for Scottish airport workers. The latest deal secures a timely boost to the pay packages of our Menzies Aviation members based at Edinburgh airport.

“Unite’s ‘Runway to Success’ campaign across Scottish airports is clocking up a string of successes. It demonstrates why Unite is the leading union for airport workers because we do what we promise: we deliver better jobs, pay and conditions.”

The overtime rate will be increased to two times the basic hourly pay on key public holidays. An unsociable hours supplement of 50 pence per hour for all hours worked between 23:00 and 06:00 will also be introduced.

Unite has also secured the introduction of a company sick pay scheme after six months' service consisting of a maximum of six weeks full pay followed thereafter by six weeks half pay.

Unite has clocked up a string of recent successes as part of its ‘Runway To Success’ campaign which is designed to establish standards beyond the legal minimums across Scottish airports (see notes to editors).

This includes: 

·       12 per cent basic increase in pay for Edinburgh Airport Services workers.

·       10.9 per cent for OCS workers based at Glasgow airport.

·       10 per cent pay rise for ABM workers at Glasgow airport.

·       6.8 per cent for Menzies Aviation workers at Glasgow airport.

·       Union recognition agreement for workers employed by OCS based at Edinburgh airport.

Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, added: “Unite is delighted to have secured another pay win this time for  Menzies Aviation workers at Edinburgh airport. The deal ensures that basic pay, shift and overtime rates are all improved along with access to a company sick pay scheme.

“The pay deal with Menzies is a timely reminder to other companies based at Scottish airports that deals can be reached through negotiation.

“The same can’t be said for other companies like ICTS who we are in dispute with at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports. ICTS appears intent on escalating our dispute to strike action, rather than resolving this through talks by making a fair pay offer to our members.”

Around 300 Unite members based in Aberdeen and Glasgow airports employed by ICTS central search are being balloted on strike action in an escalating pay dispute.

The ballots at both airports will close on Monday 1 July. If the ballots are successful, then strike action could start mid-July at the peak of the summer holiday rush.   

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The principal aims of the ‘Runway to Success’ campaign are: 

1. Remove zero hours, non-guaranteed hours and minimum hours contracts across all Scottish airports.

2. Real Living Wage ‘plus’ as basic minimum hourly pay.

3. Improve hourly rosters to deliver a better work and life balance.

4. Extend trade union recognition and collective bargaining agreements with all companies based at Scottish airports.

5. Restore conditions removed during Covid and the outsourcing of employment including sick pay, holidays, and shift premiums.

For media enquiries please contact Andrew Brady on 07810157922.

Email andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org

Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members. The union is led in Scotland by Derek Thomson.