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Airport unions to cause chaos with strikes at the height of Scotland's summer getaway

Airport unions to cause chaos with strikes at the height of Scotland's summer getaway

Daily Mail​2 days ago
Glasgow Airport workers will stage a 48-hour walkout this month as they ratchet up the pressure on bosses to hand them above inflation pay rises.
In a move which looks set to affect tens of thousands of travellers, around 100 staff at the busy airport will strike between July 24 and 26.
Workers intending to walk out include airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers and managers.
They have all been involved in an increasingly bitter row with Glasgow Airport and its owner new owner AviAlliance amid their demands for better pay.
Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, said: 'Summer strike action is now inevitable unless Glasgow Airport's new owners come to their senses.'
During the busy summer holiday period around 30,000 passengers travel through Glasgow Airport daily, and bosses are now set to activate contingency plans to minimise disruption to holidaymakers.
Workers directly employed by Glasgow Airport have backed strike action after overwhelmingly rejecting a 4 per cent pay offer.
Unite said its members will walk out at 6am on July 24 for 48 hours until 5.59am on July 26 as part of their pay campaign.
Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, said: 'Glasgow Airport Limited is making the lowest pay offer despite being the most profitable company at the airport.
'It is the only company escalating a dispute and they seem to be spooling for a fight rather than trying to resolve the dispute.'
As part of a separate dispute the union has settled with ICTS Central Search, meaning the 250 workers it represents in the security area of the airport employed by the firm will not strike after winning a five per cent pay rise.
The union is also balloting around 100 Swissport workers at the airport in a row over rotas, work-life balance, and health and safety concerns.
These workers provide ground services to major airlines, including baggage handling, and if the latest offer from Swissport is rejected these workers will be asked if they want to strike.
Glasgow Airport is part of the AGS Group which earlier this year was bought by AviAlliance in a £1.53billion deal.
Unite said that it had tried to restart negotiations with Glasgow Airport in an attempt to resolve the pay dispute, but it has been informed that no new pay offer will be made to workers.
An AGS Airports spokesman said the company was 'extremely disappointed' at the strike announcment.
He added: 'We have been in talks with Unite since March during which time we have made several improved and fair offers against a backdrop of a challenging operating environment.
'We have tabled an offer of four per cent, which represents an above-inflation pay increase.
'Despite reaching agreement with 80 per cent of our staff across AGS Airports over pay, our offer has been rejected by 75 members of staff at Glasgow Airport who, through Unite, have informed us they wish to embark on strike action.
'We will now proceed with our contingency plans to ensure we minimise any disruption for our airlines and passengers.'
In the 12 months to May 2025 inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, was 3.4 per cent.
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