HUNDREDS of workers at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports are set to be balloted on summer holiday strike action over a pay dispute.
The proposed industrial action follows a last-minute breakdown in talks between ICTS Central Search and the Unite the Union on Friday, June 7.
The union has now called upon the airport's owners AGS to intervene in the escalating pay dispute.
Unite has said staff at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports are “routinely” going without breaks, which they are legally entitled to, due to ongoing staffing issues.
Workers at both airports have also “emphatically” rejected a pay increase of 4% and a £500 one-off payment from ICTS Central Search.
The company employs around 220 workers at Glasgow and a further 100 workers at Aberdeen who Unite confirmed will be balloted for strike action.
Balloting at both airports will open on Monday, June 17, and will close on Monday, July 1.
The proposed strike action could start mid-July, which will be the peak of the summer holidays in Scotland.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, has said workers at both airports have been left with no other choice than to fight for a fair pay offer.
She said: “Unite has repeatedly warned ICTS that our members at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports are on the verge of taking strike action due to the greed of an extremely profitable company.
“Our members have been left with no option but to fight for a fair pay offer because the company is refusing to give them one.”
“Unite will back our ICTS members every step of the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
Workers who are being balloted deal with passengers directly in the security search areas at the airports.
The workers also cover mobile patrols, control access posts, screen deliveries and deal with emergency services.
Pat McIlvogue, Unite’s lead industrial officer for the aviation sector in Scotland, said without the workers the airports simply can’t operate.
He said: “ICTS cancelled talks at the last minute with Unite which shows how much it cares about their workforce and the travelling public.
“Unite is now calling on AGS which owns and operates both Aberdeen and Glasgow airports to intervene because shockingly ICTS can’t even be bothered to meet us.
“Unite has made it clear that there should be a pay offer on the table which reflects the importance of our members’ jobs, and we believe AGS recognise this fact even if ICTS don’t. Without these workers the airports simply can’t operate.
“ICTS are coining it in on the back of our members’ hard work but it is choosing to undervalue our members, and put at risk the holidays of the travelling public during the summer.”
ICTS and AGS have been contacted for comment.
