Latest news with #MenziesAviation
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- 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.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Summer holiday strike chaos threat as unions warn airport staff could walk out over pay
Holidaymakers face weeks of travel misery at Scotland's two biggest airports this summer as staff look set to walk out in a dispute over pay. Around 600 ground crew workers at Edinburgh and Glasgow international terminals could bring operations to near standstill after 'emphatically' rejecting two separate pay offers. Now union leaders are warning that strike action is 'looming' unless their employer Menzies Aviation puts an improved deal on the table. Unite the Union, which represents the workers, branded the basic pay offer of around 4 per cent at Edinburgh and 4.25 per cent at Glasgow as 'unacceptable' after the company announced a 'record-breaking performance' last year. And it said if improved offers are not made it will have 'no option' but to ballot members on industrial action during the peak season. This could lead to delays and cancellations affecting major airlines including British Airways, Loganair, Emirates, Lufthansa and AIR Transat, all of which are supported by Menzies ground handling and passenger services workers. Menzies staff are also used by Aer Lingus, American Airlines and United Airlines, with strike action likely to spell misery for tens of thousands of holidaymakers hoping to jet off to popular destinations such as Spain and the US. 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.' A total of 97 per cent of the estimated 300 workers balloted in Glasgow voted against the latest pay offer of 4.25 per cent, while all 300 staff based at Edinburgh turned down an offer worth around 4 per cent. It comes just two months after Menzies, which has ground handling staff at around 300 airports in 65 countries, announced it had achieved its fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth after global revenue reached £1.9billion [$2.6bn (USD)] - up 20 per cent over the year. The company also reported global earnings before tax of £282million [$382m] last year. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said in the wake of this members 'emphatically rejected unacceptable pay offers'. She added: 'The Menzies group is posting sky-high profits and our members who contribute towards this success deserve far better from the company.' On its website Menzies put its success down to its staff and 'non more so than ground services', which includes flight dispatchers, airside agents and controllers. It states that they 'always do our best to deliver safe and trusted service and a world-class passenger experience for every customer, every time', adding: 'None more so than ground services, where our dedicated teams make sure that more than 250m passengers every year are ready for take-off through the delivery of a portfolio of supportive services.' But if strike action goes ahead it could impact on a number of flights in and out of the two airports. Last year during the peak summer months Glasgow saw on average 30,000 passengers a day go through the terminal on 240 flights. Edinburgh, meanwhile, reported a record 15 million passengers in 2024, which it hailed as 'a milestone achieved for the first time ever at a Scottish airport'. It announced new destinations of New York, Dubai, and Toronto, with even more routes on the timetables for this year including to Boston and Vienna. Neither Edinburgh nor Glasgow airports were willing to comment on the latest pay dispute. But a spokesman for Edinburgh Airport stressed that Menzies was just 'one of a number' of providers of ground handing staff at Scotland's largest airport. The latest threat of industrial actions comes a week after Unite announced wage wins for 100 North Air workers across Scottish airports, and over 140 ABM cleaners and OCS workers who assist passengers with mobility issues based at Glasgow Airport. Last year, planned strikes at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports were also called off after workers accepted a new pay deal by employers ICTS in July. Around 300 workers voted overwhelmingly to walk out over the busy summer months if the offer of a basic pay increase of 4 per cent, back dated to January, and a £500 one off payment was not improved. But Unite confirmed the dispute came to an end after a pay deal worth up to 12.8 per cent was agreed. Menzies Aviation said last night it was 'committed' to finding a solution to avoid disruption during the busiest time of the year. Phil Lloyd, Senior Vice President UK, 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.'
STV News
6 days ago
- 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
6 days ago
- 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.
Sky News
6 days ago
- Business
- Sky News
Union warns summer holiday strike action looms at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports
Strike action during the summer holidays is looming over Scotland's two largest airports amid a row over pay, a union has warned. Unite said ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have overwhelmingly rejected "unacceptable" separate pay offers from the company. The union warned that unless a better offer is tabled, it will have no option but to ballot members for industrial action. Unite said around 300 Menzies Aviation workers, 97% of those balloted, rejected a basic uplift offer worth around 4.25% at Glasgow Airport, while 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 workers - which includes 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."
