Union resolves ICTS dispute with pay deal for 250 workers
 
Unite confirmed today (Friday 11 July) that around 100 workers are set for summer strike action in July as the pay dispute with Glasgow Airport Limited escalates. 
 
The trade union revealed that despite repeated offers to restart negotiations in an attempt to resolve the pay dispute, it has been informed that no new pay offer will be made to the workers.
 
Unite says it has been left with no option but to issue strike dates claiming that the airport’s new management is ‘spoiling for a fight’.
 
48-hour strike action is set to take place from 06:00 on Thursday 24 July to 05:59 on Saturday 26 July.
 
Last week, an emphatic 98.7 per cent of Unite members at Glasgow Airport Limited backed industrial action to secure a better pay offer after rejecting a basic four per cent pay offer.  
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Summer strike action is now inevitable unless Glasgow Airport’s new owners come to their senses. We will support our members every step of the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
 
The workers include airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers and managers. The company made £40.65m in its latest recorded accounts. AviAlliance, a subsidiary of PSP Investments, acquired AGS Airports (which includes Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Southampton airports) in a £1.53 billion deal in January 2025.
Meanwhile, Unite can confirm it has now successfully negotiated a pay deal covering 250 ICTS central search workers at Glasgow Airport. The workers who deal with passengers directly in the security search area and process them for flights have secured a basic pay increase of five per cent.  
The ICTS deal means that disputes involving around 740 workers have been successfully resolved through negotiation at Glasgow Airport. This includes around 300 Menzies Aviation workers securing a pay deal which establishes a four per cent minimum increase for new starters, and up to 10 per cent for workers depending on grades. 
50 Falck firefighters who perform fire safety functions at the airport also accepted a basic wage increase of 4.5 per cent while there have been wage wins for over 140 workers based at Glasgow airport employed by ABM and OCS.
 
Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, said: “Glasgow Airport Limited is making the lowest pay offer despite it being the most profitable company at the airport. It is the only company escalating a dispute and they seem to be spoiling for a fight rather than trying to resolve the dispute.”
 
“We have just successfully resolved another pay dispute involving hundreds of ICTS workers at the airport. The latest deal adds to the growing list of companies at the airport where agreements have been secured through negotiation covering hundreds of workers.”
 
Over 100 Swissport workers remain in a dispute over working rotas and work-life balance, plus health and safety concerns. Workers provide ground handling services to many major airlines, including ticketing and baggage handling.  
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 14 July. If this offer is rejected, Unite will move to open a full industrial action ballot. 
 
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.