ABM staff in dispute over unacceptable pay offer

Unite the union can confirm today (5 August) it is balloting workers who assist passengers with restricted mobility based at Glasgow Airport on strike action.

 

Over 90 workers employed by ABM at Glasgow airport are involved in a dispute over an unacceptable pay offer. The workers being balloted include customer service agents, ambilift drivers and allocators.

 

The company has offered an increase for some workers worth only 15 pence per hour more than the Scottish Living Wage level (£13.45). Unite has been running a long-standing campaign to have basic pay levels sustained above the real living wage level at Glasgow airport across all employers.

 

ABM Aviation made profits of nearly £7m after tax in 2025, improving on the £5.95m made in the previous year.

 

The ballot is now open and closes 20 August.

 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite will not tolerate low ball pay offers made to our members at Glasgow Airport. ABM is a wealthy company making millions off the hard work of our members and they deserve better. We will back them in all the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

 

In June, Unite confirmed nearly 400 workers employed by ICTS and Menzies Aviation backed pay offers which were successfully negotiated by Unite at Glasgow airport lifting the threat of summer strike action.

 

Carrie Donoghue, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite is determined to ensure that all employers at Glasgow airport pay significantly beyond the real living wage as a minimum.” 

 

“ABM has made an offer which scrapes past this minimum which is unacceptable. We have no option but to ballot our members on strike action in order to get an acceptable increase from this profitable company.”  

 

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.