Flying High

Unite members in airports across Scotland have been celebrating over recent days as a number of substantial pay increases have been secured by the union.

The agreements were not only good news for nearly a thousand airport workers in Scotland, but also passengers who now no longer have to worry about potential industrial actions spoiling travel plans.

Workers at airports in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow have all benefits from being part of a trade union that organises and wins for its members.

At Glasgow’s Prestwick Airport strike action was averted after workers accepted a pay deal securing increases in pay, allowances and holidays of over 400 workers.

A ballot on strike action was due to be concluded this week, however after progress was made in wage negotiations a new offer was overwhelmingly backed by the membership.

This enhanced offer will see the vast majority of members’ pay rise from 5.1 up to eight per cent alongside an extra day annual leave for this year, and improvements to shift payments and pension contributions, with the pay deal backdated to 1 April also guarantees the real living wage for all permanent staff. 

The airport is a cargo base and hosts significant numbers of military flights and refuelling stops from North America, along with domestic and international commercial flights, and Unite represents workers including airport security, firefighters, airfield operators, ground crew, ground handling, cargo, customer services, and cleaners.  

Siobhan McCready, Unite industrial officer said: “The Prestwick airport deal brings us much closer to achieving proper recognition for shift work, unsocial hours and the incredible flexibility our members show to keep the business growing.

“Unite will continue to build on the progress made at Prestwick airport because there is still more work to be done to get our members the best possible working environment but this deal is a step in the right direction.”

Also in Glasgow nearly 400 Unite members employed by ICTS and Menzies Aviation, have backed pay offers at Glasgow airport lifting the threat of imminent strike action.

Around 230 ICTS workers at Glasgow airport who deal with passengers directly in the security search areas and process them for flights have backed a two year pay deal, which includes a five per cent increase in basic pay and shift allowances will be backdated to 1 January with a one-off bank holiday included in this year’s deal. 

They were joined in celebrating by around 160 ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Glasgow will receive a 4.4 per cent increase backdated to January, and then from 1 July a minimum pay increase of five per cent rising to 11.1 per cent for some workers. The one year pay deal covers Menzies dispatchers, allocators, airside agents, and controllers. 

The Menzies Aviation and ICTS workers previously backed industrial action after the rejection of unacceptable pay offers.

Meanwhile over 400 workers employed by Edinburgh Airport Limited have also secured an enhanced pay deal following the threat of strike action.

Members overwhelmingly backed the new offer, which will see a raise of £1800 or 5.5 per cent – whichever is greater – in 2026 alongside improvements to shift, sickness and paternity pay. The deal also sees an above inflation rise for 2027.

The workers set to benefit include airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers, and managers.

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.”

While this week brought good news for workers in Glasgow and Edinburgh, the ball was well and truly put in motion by a win for two groups of key workers based at Aberdeen airport last Friday (12 June), who also used the threat of strike action to secure enhanced pay deals.

Approximately 70 workers employed by Aberdeen International Airport secured a 4.2 per cent pay deal in a one-year deal after supporting strike action in an industrial action ballot.

The workers to benefit from the pay deal include administrative staff, airfield operators, technicians, firefighters, and crew commanders. The airport owners made a profit of £12.1m in 2024.

Another pay dispute at Aberdeen airport involving around 70 workers employed by ICTS has also been resolved after workers voted to back an improved offer.

ICTS central search workers who deal with passengers directly in the security search areas and process them for flights at Aberdeen airport backed a two year pay deal. 

A five per cent increase in basic pay and shift allowances backdated to 1 January with a one-off bank holiday are included in this year’s deal. Next year, the workers will receive the RPI inflation rate plus one per cent in basic and shift pay alongside a boost to terms and conditions from 1 January 2027.

An industrial action ballot involving ICTS HBS security staff at Aberdeen airport remains open and will close on 17 June. No new pay offer has been put to the security staff since they rejected an unacceptable pay offer.

The parent group ICTS (UK) Limited recorded its latest annual accounts in April, which show profits of £7.6m in 2025 up from £4.4m in the previous year.

Unite industrial officer, Paula Buchan said: “Unite has positively resolved pay disputes with the owners of Aberdeen airport and ICTS central search. The pay deals provide extra income security for our members, and we are pleased these disputes are over.”

“There remains one dispute involving hold baggage security staff employed by ICTS. The threat of disruption to Aberdeen airport is still real unless an improved offer is tabled. The ball is in ICTS’ court to bring this final dispute to an end.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham welcomed the wins in airports across Scotland that have resulted in members seeing “significant increases in pay, allowances and better working conditions.

“This result was only achieved by the workers being prepared to take strike action if necessary to get what they deserved.”

By Keith Hatch