Scots holidaymakers face summer flight chaos as airport strikes loom
Employees at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports are threatening to strike if a pay offer is not agreed.
Thousands of Scottish holidaymakers are facing flight disruptions at two major airports this summer as staff threat to strike over pay deals. Ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have overwhelmingly rejected 'unacceptable' pay offers.
Around 600 workers including dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers have knocked back two separate pay offers at each airport in recent months, claiming striking may be their only option. And it could mean a summer of upheaval for holidaymakers.
Unite industrial officer Carrie Binnie said: Summer strike action looms over Edinburgh and Glasgow airports because the pay offers on the table from Menzies Aviation aren't good enough.
Menzies Aviation has the ability to improve its offers and they can easily resolve this pay dispute without any disruption to the travelling public. If the company fail to table a better offer to our members, Unite will have no option but to ballot our members for strikes over the summer holidays."
Around 300 Menzies Aviation workers rejected a basic uplift worth around 4.25 per cent at Glasgow airport and around 300 workers based at Edinburgh airport also rejected an offer worth around four per cent.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Unite's Menzies members have emphatically rejected unacceptable pay offers.
"The Menzies group is posting sky-high profits and our members who contribute towards this success deserve far better from the company.
The Menzies ground handling and passenger services 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 in March this year announced a 'record-breaking performance' for 2024. The company stated it had achieved its fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth after global revenue reached $2.6bn (USD) – up 20 per cent over the year.
Menzies also reported global earnings before tax of $382m.
Last year, planned strikes at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports were called off after workers accepted a new pay deal in July.
Hundreds of employees voted overwhelmingly to walk out over the busy summer months if the offer of a basic pay increase of four per cent and a £500 one off payment wasn't improved.
But Unite general secretary Sharon Graham confirmed the dispute has come to an end after an improved offer was put on the table.
The new deal included a basic pay rise of five per cent, a one-off payment of £500 and an enhancement to the shift allowance of 75 pence per hour, which is an uplift worth around 5.9 per cent.
Staff are also now paid double time for working shifts on Christmas and New Year's Day. The overall pay package boost was estimated to be worth up to 12.8 per cent.
Sharon said: 'Unite has delivered another significant win for airport workers in Scotland. The latest wage win sends a clear message that if you want to secure a boost to your jobs, pay and conditions then join Unite.'
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