ABERDEEN AND GLASGOW AIRPORTS FACE CHAOS AS STRIKES OVER PAY 'INEVITABLE'

Strike action at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports is "inevitable", according to the Unite union, after workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike over pay disputes.

The outcome of the vote was confirmed by Unite on Tuesday, with 98.5% of approximately 200 ICTS (UK) Limited workers at Glasgow and an additional 100 or so at Aberdeen airport supporting the strike action, making a total of 89.7% in favour. Unite also confirmed that the ICTS Central Search employees, who interact directly with passengers in the security search areas and process them for flights, could commence action in mid-July unless ICTS significantly improves their pay offer in the coming days.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: "Unite's members employed by ICTS at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports will not tolerate low pay. ICTS is a very profitable company, yet it is refusing to make our members a fair pay offer. Unite will back our ICTS members every step of the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions."

Pat McIlvogue, Unite's lead industrial officer for aviation in Scotland, said ICTS had chosen to escalate the dispute to the point of strike action "rather than act in a responsible way by negotiating a fair pay offer with Unite". "Strike action is now inevitable because 300 ICTS workers at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports have been left with no choice but to fight for what they deserve," he said.

Mr McIlvogue has made a plea to AGS, the company behind Aberdeen and Glasgow airports, to step in as a last-ditch effort to prevent ICTS from sparking major travel chaos. He further stated: "Without these workers, the airports simply can't operate."

ICTS central search staff at both Scottish airports have turned down an offer of a 4% pay rise, backdated to January 2024, along with a one-off payment of £500.

2024-07-02T08:57:02Z dg43tfdfdgfd