Unite in pay disputes with companies based at Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow airports

Unite has confirmed that 900 workers are heading towards summer strike action in pay disputes with companies based at Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow airports.

Several industrial action ballots open this week including for workers employed by Edinburgh Airport Limited and Menzies Aviation at the capital's airport, involving around 500 Unite members. Approximately 70 ICTS members based at Aberdeen airport will also be balloted in a dispute over an unacceptable pay offer.

Last week, Unite announced that ICTS workers are being ballot over industrial action at Glasgow with a further 140 Menzies Aviation workers now balloted at the same airport (see notes to editors).

If the disputes are not resolved then strike action is set to occur at the peak of the summer holiday rush coinciding with the World Cup, and the Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Hundreds of workers across Scotland’s largest airports are heading towards summer strike action.

“The companies involved are all highly profitable. They can easily afford to give our members fair and reasonable pay offers but have decided to put boosting profits before people."

Around 370 Edinburgh Airport Limited workers being balloted include airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers, and managers. The company made £144.4m in profit in its latest recorded accounts for year ending 2024, up from £88.2m in 2023.

Around 280 ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have rejected unacceptable pay offers. The workers include dispatchers, allocators, airside agents, and controllers. 

The workers provide essential support for a host of major airlines including American, United, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Emirates Lufthansa, Loganair, and AIR Transat. Menzies Aviation recently announced record 2025 results of $3 billion in global revenue.

A further 240 Unite members employed by ICTS at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports deal with passengers directly in the security search areas and process them for flights. The parent group ICTS (UK) Limited recorded its latest annual accounts with Companies House in April, which show profits of £7.6m in 2025 up from £4.4m in the previous year.

Carrie Donoghue, Unite industrial officer, said: “Any strike action would ground planes and passengers during an expectedly busy period with the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.”

 “The blame for this situation arising will lie entirely with these extremely wealthy companies. They can end these disputes immediately, and in doing so they can give the travelling public peace of mind.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor 

Menzies Aviation (UK) Limited - Glasgow. Opens 7 and closes 21 May.

Menzies Aviation (UK) Limited - Edinburgh. Opens 8 and closes 21 May.

ICTS (UK) Limited - Aberdeen. Opens 5 and closes 28 May.

ICTS (UK) Limited - Glasgow. Opens 1 and closes 21 May.

Edinburgh Airport Limited. Opens 7 and closes on 21 May.

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.