Unite in pay and conditions disputes with five companies  

Unite the union said today (Saturday 7 June) that over 800 workers are heading towards summer strike action in disputes with five companies based at Glasgow airport.

The companies involved in disputes with Unite are Glasgow Airport Ltd, ICTS Central Search, Swissport, Menzies Aviation and Falck. 

Unite has confirmed that if there is no successful resolution to the disputes in the coming days then it will move towards multiple ballots for industrial action within two weeks.

120 workers employed by Glasgow Airport Limited have rejected a basic 3.6 per cent increase. The workers include airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers and managers. The company made £40.65m in its latest recorded accounts.

50 Falck firefighters who perform fire safety functions at the airport have also rejected a basic wage increase of 3.6 per cent. The company made £1.1m in its latest recorded profits.

Meanwhile 300 Menzies Aviation workers have rejected a basic uplift worth around 4.25 per cent. The workers include dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers. Menzies in its latest financial statement reported global earnings before tax of $382m(USD). 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Hundreds of workers at Glasgow airport are heading towards summer strike action which would ground planes and passengers. The companies involved are all highly profitable and can easily afford to give our members better pay and working conditions. The truth is that they are denying fair pay increases to cynically boost their profits.” 

A further 250 ICTS central search workers are currently involved in a dispute over understaffing, working conditions and pay. The workers deal with passengers directly in the security search area and process them for flights.  ICTS (UK) Limited made £4.4m in its latest accounts.

Over 100 Swissport workers are in dispute over working rotas and work-life balance. Swissport is the country's largest ground handler. Workers provide ground handling services to many major airlines, including ticketing and baggage handling. 

The workers are struggling with chronic fatigue and understaffing. Swissport is demanding that workers at extreme short notice have to work shifts at various times and for various durations which is directly impacting on their personal lives. Swissport made £17.6m in its latest recorded profits.

Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite is in dispute with companies at Glasgow airport which could ultimately bring hundreds of workers out on strike. The companies can resolve these disputes with Unite before that situation happens by addressing the legitimate concerns and pay aspirations of our members.” 

 “If the companies refuse to work with Unite to resolve these disputes, then we will have no option but to open strike ballots. This could mean strike action happening from the middle of July.”

Unite recently announced a series of wage wins for 100 North Air workers across Scottish airports, and over 140 workers based at Glasgow airport employed by ABM and OCS.

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.