Major UK airport travel chaos planned as hundreds threaten to walk out
UK holidaymakers could face significant disruption if 450 workers at one UK airport plan to go ahead with strike action.
Unionised staff members at Glasgow Airport - Scotland's second largest hub - have been embroiled in disputes around pay and working conditions for months, with an overwhelming 98.7 per cent of members backing industrial action. The strikes, which could take place in weeks during the busy summer holidays, involve three separate companies based at Glasgow Airport: Swissport, ICTS Central Search, and Glasgow Airport Ltd.
The looming threat comes after 100 workers from Glasgow Airport Ltd (including airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers, and managers) rejected a four per cent increase. Unite points out that the company made a staggering £40.65 million in its 'latest recorded accounts'.
Around 250 ICTS Central Search workers are also stuck in an on-going dispute due to understaffing, working conditions, and pay. These staff members worth with passengers directly in the security search area - meaning any strikes could spark long delays.
Lastly, 100 workers at Swissport - the country's largest ground handler - are in dispute over 'working rotas and work-life balance, plus health and safety concerns'. A consultative ballot on a new offer has been made by Swissport to address the issues raised - which will conclude on Monday, July 14. "If this offer is rejected, Unite will move to open a full industrial action ballot," United the Union said. "Swissport made £17.6m in its latest recorded profits.
On the flip side, a dispute involving 300 Menzies Aviation workers - which the Mirror reported about here - has now been resolved. It comes after the union negotiated a deal which establishes a four per cent minimum increase in pay for new starters, and up to 10 per cent for workers depending on their grades. 50 Falck firefighters who perform fire safety functions at the airport have also come to an agreement after being offered a basic wage increase of 4.5 per cent.
"Employers at Glasgow Airport will not get away with underpaying or mistreating Unite's members," Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said in a statement. "Hundreds of workers are involved in disputes at the airport. Summer strike action which would ground planes and passengers remains on the cards. These highly profitable companies can easily afford to put the minds of the travelling public at rest by making fair offers to workers."
Last year, it was reported that Glasgow Airport handled a whopping 8,067,685 passengers in 2024 - a 9.63 per cent spike compared to the year before. The hub flies to 82 destinations in 28 different countries, and offers 20 domestic flights. If workers at all three companies go ahead with their vow to strike - it's clear the school holiday season will quickly turn into chaos.
A spokesman for Glasgow Airport told the Mirror: "We are reviewing the ballot results and remain open to finding a sensible resolution." Similarly, a spokesperson for Swissport said: "Our priority is the safety and wellbeing and fair treatment of our workforce, alongside maintaining high standards of service for our customers and we remain committed to working constructively with Unite to find a fair and sustainable resolution."
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