130 OCS workers to benefit from collective trade union bargaining rights

Unite, Scotland’s leading aviation trade union, today (3 June) announced it has secured a recognition agreement for workers employed by OCS based at Edinburgh airport.

Around 130 OCS workers will now benefit from collective trade union bargaining rights when it comes to pay, terms and conditions.

The recognition agreement with the OCS Group covers workers who aid passengers with reduced mobility issues including assisting with wheelchairs and ambilift vehicles for travellers at the airport.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “OCS workers now have Unite fully in their corner in the fight to improve their workplace and increase pay. This recognition agreement demonstrates how Unite can successfully negotiate for better jobs, pay and conditions for all OCS workers at Edinburgh airport.”

The recognition agreement follows the recent launch of Unite’s ‘Runway to Success’ campaign which focuses on improving the jobs, pay and conditions of all workers based at Scottish airports. The principal aims of the campaign: 

  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.

Mary Alexander, Unite Scottish deputy secretary, added: “Unite is delighted to have secured a recognition agreement with OCS at Edinburgh airport.”

“We recently launched our Runway to Success campaign which is designed to improve the pay and conditions of all Scotland’s airport workers beyond the legal minimums. The OCS agreement is another step in that march to success.”

Last week, Unite confirmed it had also secured a double digit pay deal for workers based at Edinburgh Airport employed by EASL (Edinburgh Airport Services Ltd). The pay deal delivers a 12 per cent increase in basic pay from £10.90 to £12.20 per hour along with enhancements to shift rates, sick pay, and holidays.

ENDS

Notes to editor

 

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.