Latest news with #CarrieBinnie
Scotsman
30-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Passenger assistants at major Scottish airport to ballot over strike action
Potential strike action could take place from early September if the ballot is successful. Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Workers at a major Scottish airport are being balloted on strike action in an escalating dispute over pay. It has been revealed today that 200 OCS Group workers based at Edinburgh Airport will be balloted from Wednesday until August 19. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad OCS has tabled the lowest possible wage offer of £12.60 an hour to match the Scottish Living Wage minimum rate to the workers which they overwhelmingly rejected. Make sure you keep up to date with news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here. The OCS Group covers workers who aid passengers with reduced mobility issues including assisting with wheelchairs and ambilift vehicles for travellers at Edinburgh airport. It means potential strike action could take place from early September if the ballot is successful. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ballot started on Wednesday. | Bloomberg via Getty Images Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Unite's members working for OCS based at Edinburgh airport deserve far more than what the company is offering which is the lowest possible that they can get away with. 'Unite will not tolerate low pay and our members will have the full backing of their union in the fight for better jobs, pay, and conditions.' Workers 'vital' to assisting hundreds of passengers every week Carrie Binnie, Unite industrial officer, said: 'OCS workers are vital to assisting hundreds of passengers every week with mobility issues at Edinburgh airport. 'For OCS to put the bare minimum on the table is unacceptable. 'The workers are essential to the airport, and they should be valued and rewarded properly.
Scotsman
02-07-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Serco accused of using 'strong-arm tactics' at Scottish NHS board that leaves workers 'openly crying'
Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A multi-national outsourcing firm has been accused of using "strong-arm tactics" to try to force workers in a Scottish NHS board to accept a change to their contracts. Serco wants to move hundreds of employees at NHS Forth Valley from weekly to monthly pay. But the trade union Unite has warned this could plunge some of its members into debt. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It said the move will effect around 600 low-paid cleaners, porters, catering staff and others. One employee recently told the Falkirk Herald the vast majority of the workforce 'feel we are getting coerced into this'. A general view of staff on an NHS hospital ward | PA They said many depend on weekly pay, adding: 'I have seen colleagues openly crying as they don't know how to deal with this.' In a letter to staff, seen by The Scotsman, Serco said the proposed change 'will improve accuracy of pay for employees and improve the payroll service across the business' by simplifying the system. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The firm said it wanted a 'meaningful consultation process, which will include listening to any concerns and looking at recommendations with a view to reach an agreement on the proposed changes'. But the company added: 'We also need to make sure that all employee representatives are aware that, should we decide to go ahead with the proposed variation, the organisation may look to end current agreement and re-engage employees who do not agree to the variation on the new terms and conditions following full and thorough consultation. 'However, this will be a consideration only after we have gone through a meaningful consultation process and carefully considered any recommendations and concerns.' Unite said this amounted to a threat of 'fire and rehire'. Carrie Binnie, the union's industrial officer, said: "Serco are attempting to force our members at NHS Forth Valley from being paid on a weekly basis to a monthly one. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This is not an insignificant administrative change because in practice what this means is family budgets being disrupted, with some members already telling us that this will force them into debt. "The Serco proposal is causing widespread concern, with around 600 workers going to be impacted. The company is ignoring how detrimental this proposal could be for the lowest paid workers within the NHS. 'Serco have used strong-arm tactics with the threat of fire and rehire, stating that workers needed to agree to the change or new contracts could be imposed on them." A recent survey by Unite found 86 per cent of Serco employees did not feel well informed about the proposal, while 67 per cent said moving to monthly pay would cause financial difficulties. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Serco spokeswoman said: 'We are currently consulting with colleagues about changing the frequency of their pay from weekly to monthly. Our commitment is to hold meaningful consultation, exploring all reasonable alternatives to reach agreement. 'There is no intention for contracts of employment to be terminated. We are conscious that this change will impact some colleagues and are offering continued support as well as communicating extensively throughout the consultation process.'
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brits brace for summer holiday chaos as major UK airports threaten strike action
UK holidaymakers could experience serious travel disruption over the busy summer holiday period, as workers in two major airports could ballot over strike action against their employer Brits could face serious travel disruption over the summer holidays, as workers at two major UK airports threaten strike action. Unite the Union has revealed that staff at Edinburgh and Glasgow Airport have overwhelmingly rejected 'unacceptable' pay offers from their employer, Menzies Aviation. An overwhelming 97 per cent of around 300 workers at Glasgow Airport and 100 per cent of some 300 workers at Edinburgh Airport voted against the proposed deals. The union has since warned that unless Menzies Aviation presents an improved offer, it will be forced to ballot members for strike action, potentially causing summer travel chaos. "Summer strike action looms over Edinburgh and Glasgow airports because the pay offers on the table from Menzies Aviation aren't good enough," Unite industrial officer Carrie Binnie said. "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." Glasgow rejected a 4.25 per cent pay increase, while Edinburgh rejected a four per cent increase. The union emphasised that the ground crew workers, including dispatchers, allocators, airside agents, and controllers, all play a vital role in supporting major airlines. The threat of industrial action follows similar tensions last year. However, these strikes were called off when workers accepted a new and improved pay deal in July, 2024. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham added: "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." Last year, Edinburgh Airport handled a record-breaking 15.78 million passengers, a 10 per cent increase compared to the year before. Despite only having one runway and one terminal, 37 airlines operate from the hub - travelling to 155 different destinations. Glasgow Airport is much smaller, and only welcomed 7.5 million passengers last year. Still, it was a 13 per cent increase from the previous year - and outranks Aberdeen (2.2 million) and Inverness (801,000) combined. According to reports, the hub flies to 27 different countries and offers 185 routes. If your flight has been cancelled delayed in the last six year, or five in Scotland, you could still be eligible for compensation. You can find out more here.
STV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Holidaymakers warned as strikes loom at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports
Scots holidaymakers are being warned that strike action during the summer holidays is looming at two major airports in a dispute over pay. Unite the union said ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have overwhelmingly rejected 'unacceptable' separate pay offers from the company. It warned unless Menzies Aviation tables a better offer it will have no option but to ballot members for strike action. Menzies Aviation said it hopes to 'reach an agreement which is workable for both the business and our employees at both Edinburgh and Glasgow'. Unite said around 300 Menzies Aviation workers, 97% of those balloted, rejected a basic uplift offer worth around 4.25% at Glasgow Airport. At Edinburgh Airport, 100% of some 300 workers balloted rejected an offer worth around 4%. 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.' The union said the ground crew workers – who include dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers – provide essential support for a host of major airlines. 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.' Phil Lloyd, senior vice-president UK for Menzies Aviation, said: 'Following the rejection of recent pay award proposals, we remain committed to seeking a resolution. 'We have invited Unite to return to the table to continue discussions this week and hope to reach an agreement which is workable for both the business and our employees at both Edinburgh and Glasgow. 'We will continue to work to pursue an agreeable solution to protect services for our airline and airport partners and their customers.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scottish Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Urgent summer holiday warning as Glasgow & Edinburgh Airport staff threaten strikes
Read on to discover if it will affect your upcoming trip Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) STRIKE action during the summer holidays is looming at two Scottish airports in a dispute over pay, a union has warned. Unite the Union said ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have overwhelmingly rejected "unacceptable" separate pay offers from the company. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Edinburgh Airport staff have threatened strikes this summer Credit: Andrew Barr It warned unless Menzies Aviation tables a better offer it will have no option but to ballot members for strike action. Unite said around 300 Menzies Aviation workers, 97 per cent of those balloted, rejected a basic uplift offer worth around 4.25per cent at Glasgow Airport while at Edinburgh Airport 100 per cent of some 300 workers balloted rejected an offer worth around 4 per cent. 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." The union said the ground crew workers - who include dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers - provide essential support for a host of major airlines. 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." Menzies Aviation has been asked for comment. Elsewhere Brits are being warned of a scam spreading across some of the UK's biggest airports. Moment Brit woman is dragged off Ryanair flight & thrown to floor after 'assaulting passengers and making bomb threat' Passengers at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton, have been warned by police of the new scam after several passengers have already been targeted. Tourists are been approached shortly after landing typically at the arrivals hall - by individuals posing as official airport staff or prebooked drivers. The scammers are often noted wearing smart clothing, carrying clipboards or signs and sometimes present fake ID. They then claim that the tourist's scheduled hotel pick-up or transport has been cancelled, changed, or upgraded.
