Glasgow Airport is set to avoid a potentially chaotic summer after nearly 400 staff members accepted new pay deals. In a last-minute breakthrough, trade union Unite secured agreements with employers ICTS and Menzies Aviation, preventing industrial action during the peak holiday season at one of Scotland's busiest airports.
Over 230 staff employed by security firm ICTS have agreed to a two-year pay deal, which includes a 5% increase in basic pay, shift allowances backdated to 1 January, and an additional bank holiday. The package also promises enhanced terms and conditions from 1 January in 2027, with workers receiving the Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation rate plus 1% for basic and shift pay.
Meanwhile, around 160 ground services personnel working for Menzies Aviation have accepted a new one-year pay offer, which includes a 4.4% pay rise backdated to January, followed by a minimum 5% increase from 1 July. For some workers, this could translate to an overall pay rise of up to 11.1%, covering various roles including dispatchers, allocators, airside agents, and controllers.
Carrie Donoghue, Unite's industrial officer, hailed the agreements as a major success, stating they guarantee "no disruption at Glasgow during the extremely busy summer period." The avoided strikes would have coincided with major sporting events, such as Scots returning from the World Cup in the USA, visitors arriving for the Commonwealth Games, and the school summer holidays.
However, industrial disputes persist at other Scottish airports. At Aberdeen Airport, an ongoing industrial action ballot involving ICTS HBS security staff remains open until 17 June, while around 370 workers at Edinburgh Airport Limited are still in dispute with their employer, potentially threatening future disruption elsewhere.