Two new ballots covering workers at Aberdeen airport as ICTS members back action

Unite, Scotland’s leading aviation union, confirmed today (29 May) that more workers based at Aberdeen airport are being balloted over industrial action in escalating pay disputes.

Approximately 70 workers employed by Aberdeen International Airport are being balloted for industrial action in a pay dispute. The ballot is set to close on 10 June. 

The workers involved in the ballot include administrative staff, airfield operators, technicians, firefighters and crew commanders. The airport owners made a profit of £12.1m in 2024.

An industrial action ballot involving security staff employed by ICTS at Aberdeen airport is also open and will close on 17 June after workers similarly rejected a pay offer.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Aberdeen airport workers will not tolerate low pay. We are dealing with very profitable companies who can easily afford to bring these disputes to end if they made our members a fair pay offer.”

“Unite will back our members every step of the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

In a separate development at Aberdeen airport, Unite can confirm that strike action was emphatically supported by ICTS workers participating in the ballot after rejecting an unacceptable pay offer.

The 70 plus ICTS workers deal with passengers directly in the security search areas and process them for flights at Aberdeen airport. Any strike action is expected to coincide with the busy summer holiday period and the World Cup.

The parent group ICTS (UK) Limited recorded its latest annual accounts in April, which show profits of £7.6m in 2025 up from £4.4m in the previous year.

Unite industrial officer, Paula Buchan said: “ICTS has chosen to take this dispute to the point of strike action at Aberdeen airport rather than making a fair pay offer to our members.”

The workers have been left with no choice but to fight for what they deserve. ICTS and Aberdeen Airport Limited would do well to remember that without these workers the airport simply can’t operate. Any disruption to the travelling public will lie at their doors.”

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Unite recently announced that nearly 700 workers at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports  backed strike action. This includes 370 workers employed by Edinburgh Airport Limited, and around 320 workers employed by ICTS and Menzies Aviation at Glasgow airport. 

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Notes to Editor 

For media enquiries please contact Andrew Brady on 07810157922.Email andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org

Unite Scotland is the