Unite warns of possible industrial action at Glasgow Airport
Unite the union has served notice to ballot for possible industrial action by bag screening staff at Glasgow International Airport.
The workers provide baggage screening for Trans-Atlantic and European flights for some of the biggest airlines at the airport, including Emirates, American Airlines, Virgin and Thomas Cook.
They are in a dispute with their employer, airport security firm International Consultants on Targeted Security (ICTS), about a pay offer, rejected by 77% of Unite members.
Unite said the offer would have meant colleagues at Edinburgh Airport, performing exactly the same roles, would be earning 9 pence an hour more.
It said ICTS workers at Glasgow airport also have a worse deal than Edinburgh workers when it comes to bank holiday and shift allowance supplements.
Unite regional officer Pat McIlvogue said: “We believe it is reasonable that Glasgow Airport ICTS workers should be treated no differently from fellow workers at Edinburgh Airport doing exactly the same job. This is a simple question of fairness.”
Unite said it remains hopeful that a remedy can be found, with further talks planned for August 9.
“However ICTS management should be under no illusions of the determination of our members to get what they rightfully deserve, which is parity with their colleagues in Edinburgh,” added McIlvogue.
A Glasgow Airport spokesman said: “We are aware of the planned ballot and are liaising with ICTS in regards to their contingency plans should they be required.”
An ICTS Spokesperson said: “We are extremely disappointed that Unite have decided to call for a vote on industrial action despite a scheduled meeting with ACAS on 9th August 2018.
“We are also concerned that statements being made by the Unite Regional Officer, Pat McIlvogue, are not an accurate reflection of matters so far and may serve to undermine the progress made. We remain fully committed in our attempts to resolve this issue however would like to reassure the travelling public that there will be no impact to our service provision should industrial action take place.”
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026