‘Runway to Success’ campaign takes-off for latest group of airport workers

Unite the union can confirm today (17 April) it has secured a significant pay deal for around 350 workers employed by Edinburgh Airport Limited which operates Scotland’s largest airport. 

The union negotiated a pay award overwhelmingly backed by the airport workers which delivers a 5.8 per cent increase in basic pay along with a similar increase being applied to shift allowances.   

The pay increase is backdated from 1 January 2025. It also delivers increases to the bonus scheme by up to £450 alongside a number of improvements to working conditions including paternity, income protection and training policies. 

The overall pay uplift is worth up to eight per cent for the airport workers. The latest pay award builds on a 6.8 per cent basic increase negotiated by Unite last year, and 12 per cent in 2023 along with a one-off cash payment of £1,000. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The Edinburgh Airport pay deal is another good deal for our members. Unite’s Runway to Success campaign across Scottish airports continues to deliver better jobs, pay and condition for our membership. The message is clear to all airport workers, if you want better jobs, pay, and conditions then be a member of Unite.”

Unite represents the overwhelming majority of the estimated 500 workers based at Edinburgh airport, which is jointly owned by VINCI Airports and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). 

Edinburgh airport workers deal with passengers directly in airport security, terminal operations, search areas and process them for flights. The workers set to receive the pay increase also screen all deliveries, and deal with airside support services. 

Carrie Binnie, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite has secured another good pay deal for our members at Edinburgh Airport Limited. It builds on our successes over a number of years to deliver a better jobs, pay and conditions for hundreds of workers at the airport.”

Unite has clocked up a string of pay awards over the last 12-months as part of its ‘Runway To Success’ campaign which is designed to establish standards significantly above the legal minimums across Scottish airports. 

ENDS

Notes to Editors 

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.