Strike action at two Scottish airports during the summer holidays has been averted after pay deals were reached, Unite the Union has announced.
Edinburgh Airport Deal
More than 400 workers employed by Edinburgh Airport Ltd have secured a two-year pay deal after previously backing strikes in an industrial action ballot. Unite said the new offer, which was overwhelmingly backed by members, will benefit workers by £1,800 or 5.5% – whichever is greater – in 2026, alongside improvements to shift, sickness and paternity pay. Next year, they will receive 4% or the RPI inflation rate plus 0.5%, effective from January 2027.
Unite industrial officer Carrie Donoghue said: “Unite is pleased to have reached a good outcome for our members employed by the owners of Edinburgh airport. The two-year pay deal will see a significant boost to basic pay, shift allowances and wider working conditions.”
Glasgow Airport Deals
Nearly 400 workers employed by ICTS and Menzies Aviation at Glasgow airport have also backed new pay offers, averting strike action that could have coincided with the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games, held in the city from July 23 to August 2.
About 230 ICTS workers at Glasgow airport, who deal with passengers in security search areas and process them for flights, have backed a two-year pay deal. This year’s deal includes a 5% increase in basic pay and shift allowances backdated to January 1, with a one-off bank holiday included. Next year, they will receive the RPI inflation rate plus 1% in basic and shift pay, alongside a boost to terms and conditions from January 1.
Meanwhile, about 160 ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Glasgow will receive a 4.4% increase backdated to January, and from July 1 a minimum pay increase of 5% rising to 11.1% for some workers. The one-year pay deal covers dispatchers, controllers, allocators and airside agents.
Ms Donoghue added: “Unite is pleased to have delivered two pay deals covering Menzies Aviation and ICTS workers based at Glasgow airport. The resolution of these disputes removes the threat of strike action and ensures no disruption during the extremely busy summer period.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Hundreds of frontline workers at Glasgow airport have secured vastly improved pay deals.”
Aberdeen Airport Situation
Workers at Aberdeen airport are being balloted for strike action, though some disputes there have been resolved. Unite said it had secured deals for ICTS central search and Aberdeen Airport Ltd workers after the threat of strike action. However, an industrial action ballot involving ICTS HBS security staff at Aberdeen airport remains open and will close on June 17.
